'Wonder Tour' coming

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

— A team of 40 students, along with adult leaders, will descend on Sulphur Springs the week of June 12-17 to work on service projects to help make the community better.

Known as the “Wonder Tour,” the seventh through 12th graders from Harvest Baptist Church in Gravette and New Life Church in Anderson, Mo., will spend five days working with the Sulphur Springs City Council, Police Departments and pastors to meet needs of the town and its citizens.They will be joined one day by families from Bella Vista Christian Church and Hope Church in Bentonville.

In past years, Wonder Tour participants have spend time in Cameron, Okla., Huntington, and Osawatomie, Kans., where they completed such projects as painting the city hall, replacing sidewalk and clearing fields of debris.

Just what projects will be undertaken in Sulphur Springs will depend upon suggestions from citizens and city officials. Persons with projects in mind can fill out a form at the city hall, said Cassie Steele.

“Since the Wonder Tour’s beginning in 2004, we have seen communities slowly begin to shift out of the ‘poverty rut’ and begin placing value in their personal lives and in their community. We are excited to see the improvements to the community of Sulphur Springs as we work with the local city council, police department and pastors to meet the needs of theless fortunate in this small town,” Steele said.

Besides community service projects, there will be afternoon games with local children, feeding a free dinner to community citizens, carnival games, dramas, concerts and other community-building activities.

To help with the cost of the event, items are being accepted for auction by Barber Auction. Persons may call Cassie Steele, 586-3011, to schedule a time for picking up items.

Jars are also in place at the Arvest Bank and Bank of Gravett where people may become involved by their contributions. Checks can be made payable to Harvest Baptist Church and mailed to Wonder Tour, Cassie Steele, Box 273, Sulphur Springs.

“Our team of adults and students are ready to do anything and everything we are capable of to improve the community of Sulphur Springs,” Steele said.

News, Pages 11 on 05/04/2011