Chalk the Walk hits four years

People of all ages enjoyed spending time in the sunshine and sharing their artistic abilities for a good cause.

by Charlie Comfort

Oskaloosa, Iowa- Chalk the Walk hit its’ fourth year as the fundraising event was held on April 22. The annual event was originally established in 2013 by KIGC, the student run radio station at William Penn University. The event serves as a fundraiser for Operation Backpack and the United Way of Mahaska County. Normally held at Oskaloosa Elementary School, the event was held at the Oskaloosa downtown square in an effort to try attract more residents to the event.

“We decided to move it to the square this year, try something different,” said Miranda Keeler, news director of the William Penn University media club.

Keeler said that organizers for the event also personally invited business owners from around the square to participate in the event. Information on the event was also distributed to students in the Oskaloosa Community School District.

For $10, residents could use a space of their choosing, as big or as small as they wanted, to create their own chalk masterpiece. All proceeds from the event this year went to Operation Backpack and the United Way, as done in years past. This year’s event was the first year that the event was organized by the William Penn University Media Club, which is also in its’ first year of existence on campus.

According to Keeler, donations for Operation Backpack did not end at the event. Donation receptacles were placed throughout the campus the week after Chalk the Walk for members of the William Penn Community to still donate to Operation Backpack.