FOLEY - The Foley council voted to sponsor both the Foley Kiwanis Club and the Baldwin Heart Walk during the Oct. 4 council meeting. Councilmembers voted to allot an annual recurring sponsorship of $1,500 to the Foley Kiwanis Club and a one-time sponsorship worth $1,500 to the Baldwin Heart Walk.

Previously, the city of Foley contributed to the Foley Kiwanis Club annually, with $500 built into the city’s budget. During the council meeting, Kiwanis member John Jackson asked the council to increase the sponsorship from $500 to $1,500 to help with the club’s Annual Foley Christmas parade. The club spends approximately $1,200 to $1,500 to put the parade on, said Jackson.

“Each year we generally buy about $1,000 worth of candy for the kids, and that’s in addition to the other costs that we have to put forth to build Santa’s sleigh and how he rides in,” Jackson said. “So we’re asking for $1,000 more if possible, $1,500 total, that will go towards the candy for the parade and also for outfitting the trailer to put Santa’s sleigh on.”

Jackson said the Kiwanis Club had already purchased the candy in anticipation of the 2020 Christmas parade prior to the parade’s cancelation. He said the club donated the candy to Ecumenical Ministries to provide for children during Christmastime. Currently, the Foley Christmas Parade is set to roll on Saturday, Dec. 4. The council vote was unanimous to increase the Kiwanis Club’s sponsorship to $1,500.

The American Heart Association’s Baldwin Heart Walk will take place on Saturday, Nov. 20 in Downtown OWA. Check-in begins at 9 a.m., the walk begins at 10. As the host city for the 2021 walk, the Foley council voted unanimously to approve a one-time $1,500 sponsorship of the event. The city will also have a team of volunteers to participate in the Heart Walk.

Funds raised from the event will support heart research, awareness and advocacy. Heart Walk participants will also receive a special $19.99 amusement park ticket deal for The Park at OWA on Nov. 20. Proof of participation is required at The Park admission window. You can register to participate in the Heart Walk at https://visitowa.com/heart.