For the past 20 years, the Hot Springs Civitan Club has conducted a fundraiser at local businesses in the Garland County area to help those with developmental disabilities. A local community service club, members place candy boxes and coin boxes at local restaurants and businesses. Customers are encouraged to take a mint from the candy boxes and leave a small donation or simply leave a small donation in the coin boxes. Theresa Pate and Sherry Riggs are the co-chairs of the candy and coin box fundraiser. Richard Pate, Jason Pate, Pat Long are active participants in the candy and coin box program.
The club uses these donations to fund local charity projects, such as purchasing handicap accessible playground equipment, supporting Special Olympics and organizing a Halloween dance each year for adults with disabilities.
However, most of the revenue from the candy and coin boxes goes to research for developmental disabilities and other cognitive disorders at the UAB Civitan International Research Center. Scientists at UAB work to find new and better treatments for disorders such as autism, Down syndrome and brain cancer.
Through the candy and coin box program, Civitans help people in their hometowns and around the world. The Hot Springs Civitan Club would like to place more candy and coin boxes in the Garland County area to help people with developmental disabilities. Anyone who has a business that would like a coin or candy box may call President Kym Jones at 901-734-5900.
Society on 07/22/2018