All area residents are invited to Rock the ARC at an afternoon of entertainment and fellowship next Sunday, Oct. 19, at 2 pm at RVP~1875/History Boy Theatre Co at 115 S. Wilson, Jefferson.
The afternoon features an array of local talent, including Bill Riley Talent Search sprout winner Ava Schilling, dancers from Prairie Blue, original poetry by Essie Kowaleski, Colleen O’Brien, Teena Toliver and Tori Riley, and music by Peg Raney, David Petersen, Sheilah and Anna Pound, Maureen Borkowski and Danielle Johnson. Members of the Community Players have also agreed to perform. Varnetta Zimmerline will speak about the challenges of feeding a family with little income during the afternoon.
A free will donation will be accepted at the door and there will be other opportunities during the afternoon to donate, with all proceeds going to the Greene County Christian Action Resource Center food pantry.
An accompanying fund drive is already under way and has raised more than $2,500 for the ARC. Sponsorship levels are set as bread, $25; vegetable, $50; meat, $100; and banquet, more than $100. There are already 29 sponsors at the meat, vegetable and bread levels, and five, including employees at AAI, at the banquet level.
The Rock the ARC fund drive is being spearheaded by Vicky Gliem with help from Kowaleski and other members of Monica’s Ministry. Monica’s Ministry formed several years ago by Monica McGregor as an outreach group at St Joseph Catholic Church. It wasn’t until McGregor’s death last April that other members of the group named it after her.
“Monica had such a heart to serve, and we want to keep that going,” Gliem said.
Gliem said her work on Rock the ARC is a matter of faith. Like many people, she used to buy lottery tickets and play the “What if I win” game. “ “Every time, my plan was to help the poor if I won,” she said. “Finally, God said to me, ‘The money’s already there. Just go get it.’ So that’s what we’re doing.”
Gliem hopes Rock the ARC, or a similar event, becomes an annual fundraiser. She sees the afternoon as a time to bring the community together to share resources to help the needy, and to raise awareness of needs in the Greene County community.
Checks can be made payable to the Greene County Christian ARC with Rock the ARC noted on the memo line, and mailed to Kowaleski at 404 S. Elm, Jefferson, IA 50129. Donors at the various sponsorship levels will be recognized. Persons who would like information can email Gliem at vickygliem@gmail.com
The ARC uses cash donations to supplement donated food items. Using the Food Bank of Iowa, the ARC can purchase food for as little as 14 cents a pound. A donor at the bread level, $25, can provide 178 pounds of food.
