Transcript Staff
Organizers of the Norman Mardi Gras Parade announced that the event will include the Share Your Heart Food Drive with donations going to the Cleveland County Community Action Agency's food pantry.
The annual parade will take place at 6:45 p.m. Feb. 13 in Norman's Historic Downtown Arts District. Non-perishable food items will be collected during the parade by volunteers with the Community Action entry or may be placed in bins along the route. Donations may also be left in the children's department of the Norman Public Library, 225 N. Webster Ave., through Feb. 12.
The food drive was highlighted and Feb. 13 was declared Norman's Mardi Gras by mayoral proclamation at Tuesday night's City Council meeting.
The parade will begin at the Santa Fe Depot on Jones Avenue, proceed north to Main Street, then east to Crawford Avenue, south to Comanche Street, and then make a second loop. Bins will be placed along Main and Comanche Streets.
The pantry, which serves over 100 families a month, would especially appreciate canned meats and vegetables, soups and chili, pasta and sauce, cereal and peanut butter and jelly. In addition to the pantry, Community Action offers rental assistance and transitional housing, weatherization and assistance with prescriptions and eyeglasses
"At December's Christmas Holiday parade, Mayor Rosenthal held a food drive benefitting Food -- Shelter For Friends. With families in need, we decided to carry on this innovative tradition. It fits perfectly with this year's theme of "All You Need Is Love" and the parade's dedication to Norman's nonprofit and public agencies who serve families," said Ed Kearns, parade chair. "We would like to offer a special thanks to the Norman Public Library for their support."
More information is available at NormanMardiGrasParade@gmail.com or 360-3279.
