ROGERS — Many people who raise funds tell the same story. With a slow economy, it's more difficult than ever to raise funds for nonprofits. But Arkansas Support Network is trying a new approach to raise money for their programs, which serve disabled children and adults.

The Starfish Gallery is an E-store that's run by one of the people who is served by Arkansas Support Network. Its inventory includes donations from the public and from some of the families that are served, ranging from collectible comic books to Build-A-Bears.

The name of the store comes from a symbol the agency uses often.

CEO Keith Vire chose the starfish to symbolize Arkansas Support Network because of the famous story about a child walking up the beach throwing starfish back into the water. Hundreds of starfish had been washed up onto the beach, so it seemed like an impossible task to get them all back into the water. "What difference can you make?" the child was asked. He said, "I can make a difference to this one," as he tossed a starfish back into the ocean.

Arkansas Support Network serves people from all over northwest Arkansas with a family support program, a supported living program, a personal care program, case management, vocational education and job placement and Kids Club, a four week summer day camp for kids with disabilities.

The supported living program helps about 300 people who are severely disabled.

"No one should live in an institution," Vire said. Even people who need ventilators and other life saving devices can live at home with the right support.

There are other agencies that serve the same population, Vire said, but he doesn't consider it a competition. Instead, he tells families that need services to shop around and interview each agency. Arkansas Support Network is always open to family input, he said.

ASN's vocational program is not a sheltered workshop, Vire said. He believes that with the proper training and, sometimes, a job coach, many disabled people can earn a better wage outside of a work shop.

"There's so much need out there, we're not going to run out of people to help," he said.

Purchases from the Starfish Gallery will help the agency help more people. The store can be found at http://stores.ebay.com/The-Starfish-Gallery. Goblin Parade

It's become a tradition in downtown Rogers, but it's a tradition that's constantly growing. This year downtown merchants are preparing for an invasion of 1,500 costumed children, along with their parents, grandparents and pets who are often costumed themselves.

The Goblin Parade will take place on Oct. 30, beginning at 3:30 p.m. About 50 to 60 merchants provide the candy for hundreds of little pirates, princesses and movie heroes. In recent years, merchants from outside the downtown area have set up their own stations on downtown sidewalks, Sara Mason of Main Street Rogers said. This is the 25th annual Goblin Parade, Sara Mason, promotions coordinator of Main Street Rogers, said. "There may be some surprises," Main Street's president Kerry Jensen said about this year's event.

News, Pages 1 on 10/07/2009

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