HOMETOWN EVENTS

Back to School Come and Go AWANA Pre-registration set

Gentry First Baptist Church invites all to its Back to School Come and Go AWANA pre-registration for children, ages 3 years to sixth grade, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, from 6 to 7 p.m., in the fellowship hall. There will be games set up for children to play while parents are registering them. AWANA begins Wednesday, Aug. 22, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Parents are welcome to register their children the first night or pick up a form and return it. The Rooted Student Ministry is having a Back to School Bash for seventh- through 12th-grade students on Aug. 15, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., in the FAC Building. There will be door prizes, hot dogs and an ice cream bar. Everyone is invited to join the church in welcoming its new student pastor, Kyle Dowell. For more information, call the church office at 479736-2646.

Chicken giveaway set at First Assembly in Gentry

A chicken giveaway is scheduled for from 12 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25, at Gentry First Assembly (in case of rain, it will be on Saturday, Sept. 8). Free hot dogs and water or Gatorade will be given out at 1 p.m. Vendors will be on site offering kettle corn, frozen lemonade and shaved ice for sale. There will be three or four worship bands and prayer tents for those who desire prayers. Inflatable games and the playground will be open for children. Attendees are asked to bring their own lawn chairs. The free chicken distribution will begin at 5 p.m. and is on a first-come, first-served basis — those desiring the free chicken will receive a number and be in a line. Several thousand pounds of frozen chicken will be given away.

Free Quilting Class

A class for area quilters and crafters will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Church of Christ annex, 202 Irving Street S.W., in Gravette. Instruction will be given on a quilt block and a “show and tell” session will be held. Please bring finished projects or works in progress and a snack to share.

AARP Driver’s Safety Course

An AARP Driver’s Safety Course is being offered from 1 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23, at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity and Wellness Center. This course is specially designed for drivers age 50 and older. Most insurance companies will provide a discount to those taking the course. Consult your insurance company. Call the Senior Center at 479787-5950 to register. Fee is $15 for AARP members, $20 for non-members. A membership card must be presented in order to receive the AARP discount.

Food Truck Fridays

The Greater Gravette Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring Food Truck Fridays in Centennial Park, at the four-way stop in Gravette. A variety of food truck vendors have signed up and some offer callahead or text ordering service. The schedule for upcoming weeks is Aug. 17 — Dondi’s Food With Attitude; Aug. 24 — Road Racks BBQ; Aug. 31 — Nacho Momma’s Taco; every Monday — K’Zoli’s; and every Wednesday — Dondi’s Food With Attitude.

Gentry Farmers Market open

Gentry Farmers Market will be open on the south side of Gentry City Park on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through the summer. Call 479-7362358 for more information.

All About Baby event set for Aug. 16 at SSRH

Siloam Springs Regional Hospital is hosting a free, drop-in All About Baby event from 4 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 16 inside the hospital’s lobby. Those who attend may visit with an array of vendors, meet with local providers, ask questions to staff and tour the Women and Children’s Unit. Call 479-215-3124 for more information.

First Baptist Food Pantry opens in Decatur

First Baptist Church, located at 213 E. Roller Avenue in Decatur, will hold a community food pantry on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. For more information, contact the church at 479752-3514.

Decatur UMC Pantry open first, third Thursdays

The Decatur United Methodist Church Food Pantry is open the first and third Thursday evening of each month from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and offers food boxes to Decatur residents. All that is needed is a valid identification, a utility bill or piece of mail showing an address in the 72722 ZIP code area. Also available is a USDA commodity program to residents of Decatur and other communities without a commodity program. The commodity program requires income information. For more information, stop by the church during food pantry hours.

GFA Food Pantry open Tuesdays

The GFA Food Pantry at the First Assembly of God in Gentry is open from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. The church partners with the NWA Food Bank and Rural Compassion to receive food to be given away, including canned goods, fresh vegetables, bread, milk and dairy products, eggs, and meats as part of the only certified food bank in Gentry. Other items such as toilet paper, shampoo, cleaning products and baby supplies, are also available as supplies last. Clients are asked to call for an appointment. For more information, or to make an appointment to receive food assistance, call 479-736-8415.

Lions meetings set in Gravette, Gentry

The Gravette Lions Club meets at 12:15 p.m., the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity and Wellness Center, 1870 Limekiln Road, in Gravette. The Gentry Lions Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month at the McKee Community Room in Gentry Public Library. New members are welcome and invited.

Decatur VFW Post meets

VFW Post 9834 meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. Guests are welcome.

Tired Iron club meets third Tuesday of month

Tired Iron of the Ozarks antique engine and tractor club meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the club’s show grounds, located at 13344 Taylor Orchard Road in Gentry. For more information, visit the club’s website at www.tiredironoftheozarks.org.

Gravette Kiwanis Club holds breakfast meetings

The Gravette Kiwanis Club holds breakfast meetings at 7 a.m. each Friday at the cafeteria inside Ozarks Community Hospital. Guests are welcome.