Around Oakley: Friends of Oakley to host car show, kids festival fundraiser

By Roni Gehlke
For the Contra Costa Times

Car show enthusiasts looking for fun, local family entertainment will want to check out the Friends of Oakley's "Fun In The Sun 2011" event Saturday at O'Hara Park. All of the proceeds from the car show will go to the Friends of Oakley's Christmas Basket Program for this coming holiday season.

While the show-and-shine-style car show will be a big part of the event, the coordinators have added some new attractions to make this event a lot of fun for children as well.

"We still have the jumps and clowns, but this year we've added spin arts and a Party Line train to the show as well," Pat Anderson, Friends of Oakley board member and event coordinator, said.
For even more fun, Anderson said there will also be face painting, crafts, a story time corner, bubble corner and game garden. Local business Pompei Nursery will be on hand to offer a "Green Thumb Zone" and kids will also want to head over to the "Make a Guess Grove" to have a chance to win a prize. The kids festival will be open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the same hours as the car show.

The event will also feature a hot dog lunch with beans, chips and a drink from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Children also will have a chance to pick out their favorite cars in a kids' choice award.
For the past few years, the Oakley organization has been sponsoring the event and helping out other Oakley causes, but Anderson said this year the group has decided to keep the funds for its own Christmas Basket Program. Their hope is to increase the number of families that they help throughout the holidays from 200 to 300 this year.

The group started just a few years back, primarily by Oakley City Council members and a few other Oakley residents, as a way to give back to the community. One of its first goals was to provide a holiday food drive similar to that of the Brentwood Community Chest. As a matter of fact, the Brentwood organization helped the Friends of Oakley kick off their fundraiser in the first year to secure a way for Oakley to take care of their own. Now the Friends of Oakley take care of Oakley residents in need under this program.

Over the years, the group has gone from helping 150 families to 200. Now, if support goes well this year, kicking it up to 300 served will be a large help to those in need in Oakley.

The group is raising money through the car show entries and ticket sales for games and food at the events. Gaming tickets can be purchased per game, but keep in mind that this is an excellent cause, so even if you purchase a few extras, know that you are really helping someone in need.
O'Hara Park is at the corner of O'Hara Avenue and Cypress Road.

Everyone is welcome to attend, not just Oakley residents. What a great idea for some local fun in the sun.

Roni Gehlke is an Oakley resident. Reach her at ourbackyard@comcast.net.