By Adam Smith
The North Jefferson News
A local charitable foundation is again turning to music to help raise funds for its cause.
Gardendale-based Just Keep Smiling provides gas vouchers, buys food, pays utility bills and living expenses for families with critical care children. The group will hold its third fundraising concert on Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Gardendale First Baptist Church.
The event is free, but the foundation will take up a love offering to further its mission.
Dubbed “A Night of Praise and Worship,” the concert will feature soloists George Weeks, Jodi Dial, Charlotte Guffin, Faith Harper, Rich Valenta, Ted Cook, Jason Hallmark, Jim Clark, Shelly Burkett and Karen Allen. The soloists will also be backed by the church’s orchestra and choir at the event.
“The last two years, we brought in groups, but people have said how much they’d like to hear the Gardendale First Baptist] choir and orchestra,” said Just Keep Smiling founder Sue Jeffreys. “We’re trying to get a little better every year and we thought this was a great opportunity.”
Jeffreys said the event isn’t just about raising money for the foundation, but also giving praise to God for His blessings on the group. She said it also provides a means to thank the community for its support.
The four-year old group has helped well over 300 families by Jeffreys’ estimation, including a young boy from Dothan in need of a heart transplant.
The transplant team at UAB Hospital would not put the boy on a waiting list because his family did not live close enough to the hospital. Just Keep Smiling was able to secure a house for the family and then find public housing in Hanceville to allow the patient to be added to the transplant list.
Just Keep Smiling was also recently awarded a $10,000 grant from UAB to help offset some of the costs for the all volunteer organization. Jeffreys said “99.9 percent” of every penny the group receives goes to help families.
“Our main goal is to be there for the families and provide payments for them so they can stay at the hospital with their child,” Jeffreys said. “The number of those we help is increasing every year.”
Religion
October 30, 2009
Just Keep Smiling to host benefit concert next month
- Religion
-
-
Church welcomes members to new campus for prayer walk
It’s not completely finished, but members of Gardendale First Baptist Church had the chance to worship briefly at their new campus on Sunday.
-
Prayer walk group to meet at area schools in upcoming weeks
A new ministry group known as P3 (Power of Praying Parents) and campus ministry group First Priority have teamed up to organize prayer walks on the campuses of area schools.
-
Church project to shed light on poverty
On Friday, the youth pastor at Gardendale-Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church and at least 15 youth members will be participating in a project that will culminate with an outdoors sleepover.
-
Youth Force Ministries moving to new location
The church bought the former Farmers Gin and Tractor building and surrounding 9.2 acres. Crews have been renovating the facility to transform it into a place of worship. “Anybody that’s been in there wouldn’t know it on the inside,” said Robin Bullock. “It’s really unique.”
-
Warrior church finds a new home
Rapid growth at a church in Warrior has forced it to find a new home.
-
Just Keep Smiling to host benefit concert next month
A local charitable foundation is again turning to music to help raise funds for its cause.
Gardendale-based Just Keep Smiling provides gas vouchers, buys food, pays utility bills and living expenses for families with critical care children. The group will hold its third fundraising concert on Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Gardendale First Baptist Church. -
Concert event to benefit Christian university
Anyone looking for inexpensive entertainment at a good price can find it this weekend at the Gardendale Civic Center.
“Stars Fell on Gardendale” will offer up a variety of musical and comedy acts with proceeds benefiting Faulkner University. Tickets for the show are $10. - Church crafts new lounge for FHS teachers Volunteers revealed a “Starbucks-style” break room with new paint, appliances, cabinets, countertops, tables, chairs and even ceiling tiles.
-
West fund to benefit family
North Jefferson residents are rallying around the family of a community-minded man who died earlier this month.
Jeffrey “Scott” West died on July 16 at age 46 following complications from Type I diabetes, according to his wife, Sue Ann West. -
Warrior church providing meals for children
A Warrior church has committed to feeding a group of children for the remainder of the summer.
Family Life Center is providing up to 40 meals, five days a week, at the Boys and Girls Club of Central Alabama, Inc., located in Warrior. - More Religion Headlines
-
Church welcomes members to new campus for prayer walk
