MonticelloLive

The University of Arkansas at Monticello and the UAM Forestry Club will host the Arkansas Timber Producers Association’s annual Log-a-Load for Kids program on Saturday, August 4. The event raises funds to benefit the Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) in Little Rock.

Since 1993 loggers, paper and forest product manufacturers and other members of Arkansas’ forestry community have raised $2.3 million to support the hospital. The Log A Load for Kids program began in 1988, when two South Carolina loggers gave a contribution equal to the value of a load of logs to their own local children’s hospital. This act of kindness spread, and today loggers and forestry groups in 31 states raise more than $3 million a year to support hospitals participating in the Children’s Miracle Network.

In Arkansas, community-wide fundraising events are held annually in Arkadelphia, Camden, Glenwood, Sheridan, Little Rock, Monticello, Nashville, Petit Jean, Prescott, Strong and Wilton. The Monticello program will begin at 6 p.m. with a fish fry at the John F. Gibson University Center gymnasium on the UAM campus. There will be an auction and drawing for a quilt made by children who are patients at ACH. Tickets are $10 per person and sponsor tables are available for $400.

Pictured are members of this year’s organizing committee: (from left, first row) Anna Owens of The Price Companies, Mike Pennington, vice president of The Price Companies, Joe Griffith of L.D. Long Logging, Rita Schmitz of The Price Companies, (second row, from left) Dr. Sayeed Mehmoud, Dr. Rob Ficklin, and, Dr. Lynne Thompson of the UAM School of Forest Resources faculty, (back row, from left) Gay Pace of UAM, Michelle Nickolson of The Price Companies, Les Reid of Timber Logistics, and Grant Pace of Timber Logistics.