THREE RIVERS AREA — The White County Aging Program, a nonprofit organization for senior citizens, is selling spaces for names to be engraved in its new sign to help cover the cost of the sign. The organization's old sign was damaged by severe storms, Director of Transportation Tammy Stipes said.
"The lights on the old one no longer work, and the letters kept falling off of it. We had no idea though that a new one made of brick would cost close to $9,000," Stipes said.
She said that Bob Jones with L&A Precast helped the organization get the new sign for half the cost, but donations are still needed to cover the expense.
The new sign is 12 feet by 8 feet with four large pillars withbrick in between each side. The sign itself will be painted steel and will have letters that stick to it magnetically. Bible Monument in Searcy will engrave the names,and Creative Signs provided the letters. Stipes said there is room for 320 names to be engraved on the pillars. So far, the space is about half filled, she said.
"We still have a long way to go," Stipes said.
Residents can purchase a space in memory or honor of a loved one or even in honorof a family pet. Spaces range in price from $10 to $30 and are tax deductible.
Program Director Marcia Pressler came up with the idea to sell space for the names.
Pressler said White County Aging Program provides both congregate and home-delivered meals to senior citizens, as well as transportation and socialization events. There are eight centers in White County at Searcy, Russell, Pangburn, Bradford, Judsonia, Garner, Beebe and Letona. The organization serves more than 10,000 meals each month.
Some of the organization's upcoming events include a trip to the Memphis Zoo on Monday, Sept. 14; a Country Jam fundraiser, which will feature country music, dancing and barbecue Monday, Sept. 21; and a lunch cruise on the Arkansas River Queen on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
White County Aging Program is at 2200 E. Moore St. in Searcy. For more information about purchasing a space on the sign or about upcoming events, call (501) 268-2587.
Three Rivers, Pages 122 on 08/30/2009