Organizations need workers for Sandfest
BY DAN PARKER SOUTH JETTY REPORTER

Community organizations helping put together the next SandFest event are seeking volunteers to help out.

Volunteers will do everything from tidying up SandFest grounds to manning booths, said Dee McElroy, director of SandFest.

The next SandFest will be March 30-April 1. Now 10 years old, the annual SandFest event features the work of master and amateur sand sculptors. The festival attracts thousands of folks to the beach in Port Aransas each year.

SandFest is teaming up with The Art Center for the Islands, Port Aransas Community Theater, Port Aransas Food Pantry and Friends of the ARK to put on next year's event.

Each of the non-profit groups will get a portion of proceeds from next year's SandFest in exchange for providing volunteers to help run the festival.

Port Aransas Community Theatre will be handling airport transportation for the master sculptors and other duties. People who want to volunteer can call Elleece Calvert at 749-5916.

The Port Aransas Food Pantry will coordinate groundskeeping and help run an interactive SandFest feature where people can, for a donation, pose for photos with sand sculptures of mermaids. Folks who want to volunteer for the food pantry may call Kim Fon at 749-0552. The Port Aransas Food Pantry provides free food for people in need. It has nearly 150 clients, including 135 children in Port Aransas.

Friends of the ARK is seeking volunteers to run a booth where a raffle will be conducted. Potential volunteers may call Keith McMullin at 749-7500. The ARK - Animal Rehabilitation Keep - is a facility that treats injured wildlife at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute. Friends of the ARK is a separate organization that raises money for the ARK.

The Art Center is seeking volunteers for assorted SandFest duties. To volunteer in the art center's name, call 749-7334.