Help-A-Child hosts 13th fundraiser

Each year, Help-A-Child Benefit raises funds to distribute to organizations that help provide children with what they need, including donations to Scottish Rite Hospital, Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center (NETCAC) and, this year, a local foster family.

“Last year was the first year we did that. I went to church with family who takes in special needs children, and I suggested them. That’s who we went with. This year, we’re going to work through the advocacy center [NETCAC] to get some recommendations on families. Anyone can recommend a family to us. Let’s keep in more local,” said Sulphur Bluff Masonic Lodge #246 Worshipful Master Wade Bartley, who is also a Hopkins County commissioner.

One-third of the funds raised will go to help that local foster family. Scottish Rite Hospital and NETCAC will receive one-third each, as well.

Each year, Masonic lodges Sulphur Bluff #246, Sulphur Springs #221 and Cumby #180 organize Help-A-Child Benefit. Last year, they raised enough to donate $60,000. The first year Bartley began this event, they were able to donate $12,000.

This year’s benefit will feature the traditional chili cookoff, at which Bartley said he has already confirmed about a dozen team entries. He’s expecting at least 15, Bartley said. Tickets will be $10 for all-you-can-eat chili.

It wouldn’t be a traditional benefit without a tractor pull, which, Bartley said, may be a little smaller this year, “but we will have one.”

“We don’t know what’s going to happen this year, but we didn’t want to cancel this year’s event. We want to do something,” Bartley said.

The brisket cookoff, however, will not take place for the 2020 fundraiser.

“We’ve done chili every year. It’s our staple event,” he said. “We’ve scaled back this year.”

There will be an auction, he said, with items provided by the Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapters in Hopkins County. Those include picnic tables, smokers, barbecue grills and many other handmade items students donate to the Help-A-Child Benefit cause.

“They have some really nice items,” Bartley said. “That has become a big part of our fundraiser right there. Getting kids involved to help kids.”

This year’s raffle items are a 570 Polaris four-wheeler donated by the Faulk Company and a trailer custom-built by members of Como-Pickton FFA.

To keep the entertainment fresh, Bartley said the Reilly Springs Jamboree crew would be performing this year. He said Enola Gay Mathews reached out to him, wanting to help with this year’s benefit.

Having the benefit set up at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center grounds is making that possible.

There will be a full, two-hour country and gospel stage show, featuring The Running Creek Band and Sentimental Journey Duo. Mathews and Mike Shing will be co-emcees, and Gary Jones, longtime lead man for Ray Price; bassman and vocalist Hal Roper; pianist Harry King; and drummer Bill Langley make up The Running Creek Band.

“Every member of our band is an accomplished and experienced musician. Plus, we have invited local youth Jack Phillips to bring his fiddle and steel guitar for some great western swing music,” Mathews said.

Bartley explained that the benefit event will follow COVID-19 public health protocols set by the Civic Center.

“I have visited with [Civic Center Director] Lonnie Fox to make sure we’re going to be in compliance, and I’ve visited with [Sulphur Springs] Mayor [John] Sellers,” Bartley said. “We haven’t received any negative responses from that.

All events will be held in open-air facilities this year, and a drive-thru will be available to pick up chili for those who don’t feel comfortable otherwise attending.

The 13th annual Help-A-Child Benefit will be held Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, 1200 Houston St. in Sulphur Springs.

—This article has been to corrected: Wade Bartley is the organizer for the event, not Mickey Barker, as written in a previous article.