Local business to aid Beacon Saturday

Family Video manager Cindy Hereford talks with a couple of the local video store's customers about a charity event that will be conducted at the store on Saturday. Area residents are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the "Summer of Fun" charity event in exchange for free $1 movie rentals. (Rayma Silvers/Tribune)

A Saturday charity event will help one area business reach out to local community members.

According to Family Video manager Cindy Hereford, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, the local video rental store, located at 1710 S. National, will conduct a special event that will directly benefit the Beacon, a non-profit community assistance agency that helps low-income families in Bourbon County.

At the "Summer of Fun" charity event, area residents can receive a free $1 movie rental by donating non-perishable food items, which will then be given to the Beacon. In addition, the event will include a bake sale from which all proceeds will go to the Beacon.

Hereford said Family Video wanted to have a positive impact on the local community, and when the business discovered the need local families are having in the current economic crisis, she and the store's district manager Brandon Dykman decided to host the charity event in order to help provide the Beacon with additional supplies that can be used to bring relief to more area residents.

"Times are tough," she said. "We would just like to help out the Beacon this time. We would like to continue doing stuff like this for the community. It's nice to support organizations that are in Fort Scott."

Also, on Saturday, Family Video will offer various fun activities for local youth such as Guitar Hero and Mario Super Sluggers contests. Local youth will also have the opportunity to look at a fire truck from Scott Township Fire Department. Hereford said parents are welcome to bring cameras to take their children's pictures in front of the fire truck.

Event attendees will also have the opportunity to test their movie trivia skills and win prizes. According to Hereford, various prizes including free and half-price rentals will be given away during the event. Also, an assortment of older DVDs will be on sale during the charity event for $1.99 each.

Hereford said Family Video would like to see many area residents come out on Saturday and have a good time while helping to provide much needed help to the Beacon.

"We just wanted to let everybody know about the activities," she said. "It will be a fun day for adults and kids both. I hope everyone can contribute and help out the Beacon."

For more information, call (620) 223-6800.