Isaiah 1:17 Project fundraisers Saturday

Source: Princeton Daily Clarion
Fort Branch, Indiana

A local pageant is spreading awareness and raising funds for Isaiah 1:17 Project, a local organization that gives “blessing bags” to children entering foster care.

On Saturday, May 20, the Beauty for Ashes beauty pageant will start at 10 a.m. for ages 0-6 and at 1 p.m. for ages 7-18 at the Vincennes University Gibson County Center Auditorium in Fort Branch.

The organization also hosts a benefit extravaganza from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the same day at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt featuring live music, art, food, games and other activities.

Pageant Director Amanda Parker the VU-Fort Branch event features 30 contestants. In addition to the pageant, the participants accepted a "sock challenge," where they bring as many socks as they can to fill bags for foster children. Whoever brings the most socks wins a surprise prize package.

Parker said she thinks the pageant is a good way to promote the Isaiah 1:17. Contestants who place in the pageant will serve as ambassadors of the project, being at different events and helping to fill bags.

“This is not something where the girls get a sash and crown and you don’t see them until next year,” she said. “You will see them at different events.”

Parker said the goal of the project is to help children when they’re first brought to foster care with “blessing bags” that include toiletries, pajamas, books, socks, water and other items, depending on the age of the child. She said everything in the bag will be new.

She said they want to start in Gibson County and then branch out. “The long term goal is to be as nationwide as possible,” Parker said.

She said she got involved with the organization from one of her friends serving on the board. “I jumped on board and from there, it was the one way I can give back.”

For more information or to donate to the project, visit the Facebook page: The Isaiah 1:17 Project.