People for People planning fundraiser, tour

A pair of events are coming up that will benefit two programs in town, the People for People program and the school Backpack Program.

Coming up first is the annual fundraiser for the Backpack Program, which will be held at the middle school on November 23.

In the past, the fundraiser has been decorated Christmas trees and then branched out into painted chairs and other themed items.

This year, the group has decided they will be doing anything wood. Anything you can make out of wood may be donated to the group for the event, which includes a silent auction for the donated items.

All of the proceeds from this event go directly to the school Backpack Program, which enables them to send bags of easy to fix food items home with children in all grades on Friday’s during the school year.

Often the children on the free or reduced cost lunch programs through the district are missing meals at home over the weekends. Through the Backpack Program, those children are taking home things they can easily cook on their own, like soups and such that will sustain them through the weekend.

If you would like to make something for the fundraiser or if you would like to simply give a monetary donation, please call Judy Carswell at 921-8264.

The second event is going to take the place of the traditional Christmas Tour of Homes that benefits the People 4 People program, a group of volunteers that cook and deliver around 80 meals to those in need every Sunday throughout the year.

To kick off Christmas, they will be doing a tour of Christmas Campers on Sunday, Dec. 1, courtesy of Hot Springs State Park. The campers will be set up near the State Park Headquarters for folks to investigate.

If you would like to participate in this event your camper doesn’t have to be retro, just decorated for the holidays.

There will be a bonfire during the evening as well as snacks available, so it should be fun for the whole family.

The group is looking for other kinds of entertainment, however, musicians, hay rides, wintery kinds of things that would make the event even more special.

Again, if you would like to participate or make a monetary donation, contact Carswell at the phone number above.