Rock the Block in Normal to honor volunteers

Posted on April 17, 2016

A hot dot eating contest will be included in the third annual Rock the Block in Normal on April 23. (Photo courtesy YouTube/United Way McLean County)

By Eric Stock

NORMAL – United Way of McLean County is marking National Volunteer Month by setting aside one day to honor those who give their time for the greater good.

Celebrating volunteerism is the theme for the third annual Rock the Block in Uptown Normal on Saturday.

“The first year we did Rock the Block it was a formal fundraiser and so the second year we tried something new and shifted the focus,” United Way of McLean County’s Operations Director Noel Lucero said. “It kind of resonated with people.”

She added one of the highlights of the outdoor concert will be a hot dog eating contest. That’s hot dog and bun.

“Every contestant gets some water and it’s really gross because some of them just dip the entire thing and shove it down,” Lucero said. “I guess it makes the bun softer.”

One dollar for each hot dog eaten will be donated to United Way.

There will also be live bands outdoors made up of students from Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan universities and a bicycle raffle. United Way’s high school scholarship program will also be holding a donation drive for Project Oz.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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