Carrot sticks for 600+ kids, oh my!

Today was Jump For Heart at our school.  I had inquired about the need for help at the event, and the teacher organizing stated they would take whatever help I was willing to offer.  So I took it upon myself to provide carrot sticks and water to the kids participating, which would be pretty much the whole school.

Last night, my son reminds me the following day would be the event and I had totally forgotten!  Carrot sticks for 600+ kids!  What was I thinking??  I hadn’t organized any other volunteers to help, so it was all on me!  But for the kids, it was worth it.

I had to make a run to Costco anyway, so I picked up two 10# bags of organic carrots, and cut them up while watching the new episode of Lost.  I only had enough containers and room in my fridge for one of the bags, so I would have to cut up the rest at the event, if needed.

Getting to the school before the event started, I begun set up.  By chance, another gleeful volunteering parent was hanging around, and wondered if she could help.  Perfect!  I decided to use napkins vs. cups to serve the carrot sticks in, and skipped the water cups altogether, making less waste.  There were three drinking fountains nearby, so it really wasn’t necessary.

We enjoyed watching the kids and teachers jumping rope, as we prepped.  Once they finished, all at once, the children came towards our table like a mad herd.  Another parent, who had been watching the event, hurried over to help.  It was a crazy rush of kids for about 5 minutes and then subsided.  A few trickled back for seconds and we passed out the remaining sticks.  They circled around the table, munching away happily.  “Yum, carrots!” Those words, and the children’s enthusiasm for a healthy snack, made it all worth it!