West Franfort (IL) IBEW Members Provide Seed Money for Roan Center (Shelter)

News Monday, May 01, 2006
Sara Bond: Miracles are occurring every day for the new Roan Center
By Mona Sandefur - Staff writer
Published: Monday, April 24, 2006 8:34 AM CDT


WEST FRANKFORT - Positive energy flowed Thursday night, as Roan Center board members met to discuss plans for future fund-raisers. Committee meetings didn't quite get off the ground, as members awaited the arrival of organizers Sara Bond and Shawn Bond, and secretary Sandy Davis.

The board meeting, conducted by Bruce Fasol, began with a report from finance committee chairman Nancy Bundy, who reported recent contributions received for renovation of the Women's Center and Night's Shield emergency shelter for women and children.

“The latest donations total $5,750,” Bundy said. “We received a $5,000 contribution from the First Baptist Church in West Frankfort, a couple of $100 contributions, and $250 from the West Frankfort Chamber of Commerce Board.

“I just now received two more checks, one from the Benton Consolidated High School Art Club for $1,770.16, from a walk-a-thon the students held, plus another $10 check,” Bundy said. “To date, we have received almost $16,000, not to mention the $100,000 in seed money through IBEW. We are getting good donations from a lot of good people.”

Members discussed upcoming fund-raisers, including the Saturday, April 29 multi-family gigantic yard sale being held at 16059 State Route 13 East in Marion. Public relations committee chair Danyel Paige said the yard sale runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“The yard sale is being held at my house, which is the last house between the corn fields before you reach the intersection with Route 166, which leads to Pittsburg and Creal Springs,” Paige said. “It is a old large white farmhouse.”

A day of family fun is planned for Saturday, May 6, at Pheasant Hollow Winery in Whittington. Gates open at noon. Tickets are $10 per person and kids 14 and under get in free. Entertainment includes music by Sister T and the Sinners, bluegrass by Crystal River, and more. Food and soft drinks will be available or bring your own picnic. Wine to taste and purchase will also be available. For information or tickets, call Pheasant Hollow Winery at 629-2302, The Women's Center at 618-549-4807, ext. 228, or West Frankfort Chamber of Commerce at 932-2181. Outside alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the premises.

A benefit dinner and poker run is slated for Saturday, May 13, at 212 Lounge in West Frankfort. Sign-up for the poker run begins at 11 a.m. at 212 Lounge. The price of entry is $10 per hand, which includes the dinner.

The first bike leaves at noon, with the last bike out at 1 p.m. Poker run stops include Donna's Sweetwater Saloon in Benton, Bank of Sesser Lounge, VanZandt's, Lou Dean's in Hurst, The Ranch near Johnston City, with the last stop at 212 Lounge. For more information, call Tom Bernhard at 413-0175 or 212 Lounge at 937-1486.

The benefit dinner begins at 4:30 p.m., at 212 Lounge. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children.

The meal includes pork steaks, potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans and bread. Prizes will be awarded throughout the day, with a raffle and auction starting at approximately 6 p.m. Poker run prizes are $200 for the best hand and $50 for the worst hand. Music, provided by Tom Wallace, will be from 2 until 6 p.m., with Memory Lane beginning at 7 p.m.

Individuals and organizations are invited to adopt a room day, slated for Saturday, May 20, at 1 p.m., at Roan Center, 301 E. Garland in West Frankfort.

A display room will be ready to give an idea of how many of the rooms will look. Fasol said everyday heroes from area police and fire departments, as well as military personnel, will be on hand to distribute information.

Members also discussed the upcoming Rend Lake Water Festival parade, slated for May 13 in Benton. Members are asking for a group of volunteers to walk in the parade and distribute fliers about the Roan Center and its Women's Center and Night's Shield women's and children's emergency shelter programs.

Upon arrival, Sara Bond announced she had tickets available for the CASA Gala, “We Rock for CASA,” being held Friday, April 28, at the Benton Civic Center. Members jumped at the chance to purchase tickets, filling both reserved tables. Board member and Women's Center personnel, Iva Dell Clay, is one of the lip-sync performers for the 1950s and '60s musical event.

Bond announced she had just left the Roan Center, after meeting with a potential project manager, Kelly McCord.

“Kelly knows what she is doing,” Bond said.

“She helped wire the emergency shelter built in Cairo. All I did was show her the blueprints. She pointed to three rooms on the blueprints, said I need to see what is in this room, this room, and this room, and we took it from there.

Having a project manager who knows what to do will be a tremendous cost saving, as well as an excellent supporter of Roan Center and its programs. We found out we need someone who is certified to do plumbing and heating and air conditioning, and we may have people lined up for those tasks, as well.

“There are new and wonderful things happening everyday pertaining to Roan Center,” Bond said. “Miracles are at work and we have God and a lot of wonderful people to thank for that.”

To contribute to Roan Center, make checks payable to The Poshard Foundation and note Roan Center on the memo line of your check. Checks may be mailed to P.O. Box 326, West Frankfort, IL 62896.