Les Cockrell

A new committee has been formed in Hickory Creek to help residents who are in need as a result of sickness, loss of a family member, fire or other tragedy, and volunteers are needed, said Paul Kenney, a member of the Hickory Creek Town Council.

The committee has been a goal of the council for the past two years, Kenney said.

“We decided to act on it,” he said.

The committee will be supported and operated entirely by volunteers, and operated for the sole purpose of helping Hickory Creek residents, Kenney said.

“We just helped out our first family this past week with meals,” he said.

The idea has been well-received, Kenney said.

“We have eight volunteers, and we’re hoping to grow it,” he said. “I think it’s a great start. We’re excited about it.”

The committee’s first goal is to provide families with meals when needed, Kenney said, and it plans to assist in more specialized areas by providing help with electrical and plumbing work, as well as other needs.

The town is served by many volunteers, Kenney said, but organizers have been gratified by the response to the new program.

“This has brought out some new volunteers,” he said.

Anyone interested in helping with the committee can e-mail paul.kenney@hickorycreek-tx.gov  or call 817-235-9944.

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The Boys and Girls Clubs of Denton County conducted its sixth annual awards banquet recently to recognize students, volunteers and sponsors.

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Students who attended the sixth annual awards banquet conducted by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Denton County show the achievement ribbons they received.

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Through its after-school program, summer camp and other activities, the club helps young people develop life skills and build self-esteem, said Krystle Bordley, site director.

More than 80 participants — including students, parents and volunteers — attended this year’s banquet, Bordley said.

The event featured presentation of Youth of the Year awards to Angela Branch for 2008 and 2009, and Zachary Simpson for 2010, she said, and each year’s award came with a $500 college scholarship funded by Microsoft Corp.

Boys and Girls Clubs supporting sponsors Best Buy, Walmart, Frito-Lay and the Kiwanis Club of Robson Ranch were recognized, along with representatives of Sigma Lambda Alpha Sorority and other volunteers who help with programs and tutor students, Bordley said.

For more information about the club, call 940-239-9309 or visit www.bgcdentoncounty.org .

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Riding Unlimited in Ponder will participate in a fundraising effort titled “Get Up and Give” between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday, and all donations of $25 or more will qualify for a percentage match, said Mary Gwinner, executive director.

Riding Unlimited has provided therapeutic riding and carriage driving to children and adults with disabilities for more than 20 years, Gwinner said, and staff members hope to begin a program titled “Horses for Heroes” to serve veterans.

“We have never turned away anyone due to an inability to pay,” she said.

Unfortunately, Gwinner said, the current economy has taken a devastating toll on the program’s resources, and additional public support is needed.

“A lot of charities are going through this, but it doesn’t make it any easier for us,” she said.

To make a donation, supporters need only visit www.donorbridgetx.org during the drive’s designated hours on Wednesday, search for Riding Unlimited and click “Donate Now.”

The percentage match for donations of $25 or more will help, Gwinner said.

“It’s not a dollar-for-dollar match, but your dollar will go a little further if you do it on that day.”

For more information, call Riding Unlimited at 940-479-2016 or visit www.ridingunlimited.org .

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Area craftspeople are invited to reserve booth space for the annual Mountain Springs Quilts, Crafts and Bluegrass Festival, which will be conducted on Saturday, Sept. 11.

The event benefits the Valley View and North Shore volunteer fire departments, which serve the Mountain Springs area, and vendors who make donations to the fire departments will be provided free booth space, said Donnie Nell Rich, craft show chairwoman.

Spaces are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, she said, and the craft show runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We usually have a good turnout,” she said. “Vendors for the craft show bring their own table and chairs, and there is no electricity available.”

The show typically offers a variety of handmade items, including jewelry, candles, quilts and leather crafts, she said.

The event also features a daylong quilt show, a noon barbecue lunch and a bluegrass show that runs from 1 to about 7 p.m., Rich said. Admission to the bluegrass show is $5 a person — attendees should bring their own chairs — and the lunch costs $7. There will also be a quilt raffle, and festival attendees can purchases chances for $1 apiece or six for $5.

Mountain Springs is north of Denton, and the festival grounds will be located at the intersection of FM922 and FM372, Rich said.

Vendors can call 949-637-2617 to reserve a space. More information is available online at www.mtspringscc.org .

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An adult bereavement program titled “Journey Toward Joy” will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12 at Cross Timbers Community Church in Denton, 312 W. McKinney St.

The program will continue for eight weeks, said Linda Hockenberry, administrative assistant in charge of support groups for The Healing Place, a church ministry that provides professional Christian counseling.

Registration is required, Hockenberry said. Those interested can find more information under The Healing Place link at www.crosstimberschurch.org or by calling 940-464-7330.

Cross Timbers also has campuses in Argyle and Keller, and an adult bereavement program will be offered at both in October. Several other programs also are available.

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A presentation by Ramona Davis of the Woman to Woman Pregnancy Resource Center of Denton and a style show featuring items from the Twice as Nice resale shop highlighted a fall kickoff program conducted by the Ladies’ Ministry of First Baptist Church of Justin.

Girls, teens and women from the church served as models for the style show, and all featured clothing was available for purchase.

Sales from Twice as Nice benefit the resource center.

Some of the programs offered through the Ladies’ Ministry are: a mothers group; Bible study for women; the Snack Pack Ministry, which provides healthy food on weekends for youngsters who qualify for the National School Lunch Program; Angel Food distribution; the community food bank, Apples of Gold, a program of older ladies mentoring younger ones; and Stitchers, which produces articles to help shut-ins, hospital patients and residents of nursing homes.

“We have several things to offer the ladies,” said member Mina Field. “We always have a fun time.”

Those who attended the fall kickoff were asked to bring food items for the Snack Pack Ministry, Field said.

For more information about the church’s programs, call 940-648-2273 or 648-3475.

LES COCKRELL is interested in your input for Out & About. Help share information about Denton County events and people by calling him at 940-566-6887. His e-mail address is lcockrell@dentonrc.com .