By Renee Larr
The Arc of Boone County will hold a fundraising weekend Sept. 24-25 to benefit its literacy program.
Bark for the Arc will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 24 at Jerry’s Feed & Salt in Lebanon, 850 Indianapolis Ave. The event was inspired by the Arc’s therapy dog, a goldendoodle named Penny Lane.
“We’re going to set up a dog wash, and we’re going to have other little fun activities,” said Marcia Clutter, spokesperson for the Arc of Boone County. “Penny Lane is going to have her own little booth. We’re basing it off the saying, ‘A penny for your thoughts.’ People will donate $1. You can get a handshake or a thought like a little fortune or a selfie with her.”
From 2 to 3 p.m. Sept. 25 the Arc will hold a class called Dance Fit at Whitestown Municipal Complex, 6210 Veterans Dr.
“You just pay a minimum of $5 in cash and you can come in and dance to high energy music,” Clutter said. “It’s loud and there are no mirrors. You can just come in and dance.”
The Arc started its literacy program in 2012 with help from a grant from the Community Foundation of Boone County.
“They had a request for proposals they were calling Literacy is Our Legacy Project. We were one of three recipients for grants, so that started our current literacy program,” Clutter said. “That was something we had dreamed of here for a long time, because our purpose here is to help individuals with intellectual disabilities and other needs to be able to live at their potential.”
The grant is only partially funded by CFBC. The Arc is responsible for finding creative ways to raise the rest of the amount necessary to run the program. Organizers knew they wanted a fun, relaxed event to get the people of Boone County interested in helping their cause.
“We just kind of got together and brainstormed on what we could do to raise funds and bring awareness,” Clutter said.
For more, visit thearcgbc.org.
