Square dancers lend a helping hand to local food ministry

By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

JUDSONIA - The Blue Belles and Beaus Square Dance Club and caller Charlotte Wooten are always ready to lend a helping hand.

On March 18, the club decided to have a "Can Dance" for the Jesus Lifted Up Ministries Food Bank located at Honeysuckle and Stanley roads in Judsonia.

Instead of paying the usual $3 per person admission, each person brought at least $5 worth of canned goods. In doing this The Blue Belles and Beaus were able to collect several jars of peanut butter, 190 different cannedgood items and a few other miscellaneous items.

On behalf of The Jesus Lifted Up Ministries Food Bank, Pat Long and several other volunteers were on hand to receive the items collected. Long said this was a blessing because they had only a couple of cans left on their shelves until Thursday.

Each August the club hosts a Back To School Dance to collect school supplies for a different elementary school each year.

The school supplies go to grades kindergarten through four for children who might otherwise not have all the school supplies they need. The club collects at least $4 per person in school supplies instead of the normal admission. The items donated consist of pencils, paper, crayons, scissors, glue and other needed items. Last year the club was able to donate several boxes of school supplies to the Bald Knob Elementary School.

Three Rivers, Pages 128 on 03/30/2008