Foot Soldiers Park held its third annual Candy Walk at 1705 Selma Avenue in Selma on Saturday with a strong anti-bullying theme and eventgoers were invited to wear blue.
The theme came with a message to “Wear Blue” and “Stand Against Bullying. Celebrate Community” on the “Bridge the Blue Treat Trail.”
The event’s festivities included a live DJ (DJ Double J), free food, vender booths and a blue balloon release. The winners of the best dressed contest were three little kiddos from the GWC Homes neighborhood and surrounding areas in Selma, while Selma Air took home the win for best-themed station.
The children were invited to do the annual candy walk, where they walked through to every station getting small candies to place inside of their blue bags which were handed out courtesy of Foot Soldiers Park and donors. Some donors of candy to the event were the Selma Housing Authority, Anointed Touch Tax Services, Deborah Brown, The Lemonade Lady, LLC, Mekesha Rivers and Shareka Benjamin.
The event also had two large bouncy houses and a 360 photobooth. Uncle Clyde’s Gourmet BBQ came out to the event in the business’ food truck. And, Miss Twanya Dixon celebrated with the children, by way of face painting and all sorts of fun activities, like bowling and hula hooping; an on-the-spot basketball game was also sparked during the event, a game that was started by the local children of the area, as it is annually.
AMD Innovations also joined the fun by bringing out the beloved hayride for everyone, which is a traditional piece at almost all Foot Soldiers Park events.
Overall, the event’s intent by Foot Soldiers Park was to “provide a safe and festive space, where children and families can enjoy fun, candy, and creative engagement.” The event was also a foster to inclusivity, inviting all community members to come out and enjoy community together without the fear of physical violence or verbal abuses.
Before the traditional candy walk was started, Community Engagement Organizer Kennedy Smitherman instructed the children to say an anti-bullying pledge to themselves and to one another. The pledge was all about kindness, compassion and anti-violence. Smitherman even made mention of anti-online bullying. The children finished the pledge and began their walk to every blue-decorated table at the venue.
Stations at the event featured Selma Air, the Selma City Council (manned by Councilwoman Lesia James), Foot Soldiers Park, The Community Engagement Corps of Foot Soldiers Park and Anointed Touch Tax Services.
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