EVART — For more than 50 years, the Evart Area Community Chest has played an integral part in providing funds to help area events for the community.
Overseen by the Evart Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Community Chest currently is holding its annual fund drive, which raises money to provide a source of stability to longstanding events throughout the community and help with new ones, said chairman Alan Bengry.
"It's typically a good time of the year for us to be asking for donations," he said. "We usually do fairly well. All the monies collected go back into the community projects."
Those projects include everything from the Main Street Monster Mash to the Fourth of July parade, as well as the annual fireworks display to Party in the Park, Bengry said.
"Most of the events are focused on the youth, but there also are those things that adults enjoy as well, like the fireworks," he said. "I think the Community Chest has had a tremendous, positive impact on the community."
Bengry said special projects also come up throughout the year and organizers approach the Chamber of Commerce to contribute, and the Community Chest helps out when it can.
"We've been able to help them throughout the past, with a focus on events for youths," he said.
The fund drive runs through Jan. 31, 2017, with a goal of $10,000 for events throughout the year.
"We're trying to have everything done by then," Bengry said. "We know some have a giving season based on their fiscal year and make all their giving by a particular date. Others have their giving time at the beginning of the year.
"We like to collect everything by the end of January, so we can get an idea of what events to work on and how much we have for each event."
Bengry said donations for the Community Chest can come from businesses, corporations and individuals.
"We receive donations from large corporations and individuals," he said. "Anyone is welcome and every contribution is acknowledged for tax purposes no matter the size of their donation."
To donate to the Community Chest send contributions to: Evart Area Community Chest, P.O. Box 688, Evart, MI, 49631.
