Downtown block party benefits good cause
TEXARKANA, Ark. — A Friday night block party downtown at Hopkins Icehouse brings beards and a good cause to the festivities.
The Bearded Sinners Beard Club of Texas has organized this BSBC Block Party Benefit for Bikers Against Child Abuse’s Texarkana chapter. It starts at 7 p.m.
Live music opens with Dave Almond and then showcases Heather Linn and Jase Bryant, followed by MoonshineM-afia. They’ll all perform outside in front of Hopkins with the street closed off for the party. Also performing are fire spinning artists with local vendors participating and a 50/50 drawing with a cash prize.
Leslie Chisum, the BSBC chapter president, said Moonshine-Mafia hails from Little Rock, playing classic rock and country music with both originals and cover songs.
“We’ll be having a big block party. They’re blocking off the street at about noon, and we’ll have an outdoor stage that’s going to be provided by D & M Entertainment,” Chisum said. Look for fire spinning from Phantom Flow Arts to start when it’s dark outside.
Bikers Against Child Abuse, said Chisum, is an enormous organization serving children all over the world with many chapters in Texas. “Texarkana is just one of the local chapters and we’ve worked with those guys pretty closely, as well,” he said.
One of BSBC’s first events was a partnership with the group, which Chisum says does much to help children. The local Bearded Sinners partner with various organizations to benefit their particular causes.
Chisum said BACA members have a lifelong commitment to the children they serve. “They ride bikes and they love to help,” he said. They’ll help children with court appearances and support them in other ways, he explained.
“We’re teaming back up with them, trying to help them again. They’re one of those nonprofits that not a lot of people give money to, so that’s kind of our mission in the Bearded Sinners. We’re going to help every nonprofit we can get them some money.” Chisum said.
The BSBC will also partner with nonprofit organization vendors like Texarkana Autism Awareness. Businesses have donated raffle items like food, gift baskets and more. “We’ve gone
to their event and they’re cool enough to come to ours,” Chisum said, adding, “All the businesses have been really good to us.”
He said they’ve already raised about $700 before the block party is held.
“It’s going good so far and we’re looking for a great event,” Chisum said.
He’s well aware of the tangible help that comes from the BSBC’s efforts. He and his family were assisted a few years ago with a grocery donation after he had neck surgery. Later, he became the chapter president and he’s been serving in that capacity for four years.
“It’s actually really close to my heart,” he said of the Bearded
Sinners chapter, adding, “We just continue to try to spread the love to any family or nonprofit or small business in any way possible, whether it be a benefit show like this or a work day at their place of business to help them out.”
(Admission: $5. All ages are welcome. Hopkins Icehouse is located at 301 E. Broad St. More info: Facebook. com/BSBCTX.)