Radiothon, other DART fundraisers set for Thursday

On Thursday Lincoln Parish residents will have the chance eat some jambalaya, support victims of domestic violence, and hear from survivors, law enforcement and other fixtures of the local community — all in one place.

The Domestic Abuse Resistance Team will hold its 22nd Annual Radiothon fundraiser Thursday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Super 1 Foods, and for the first time, Karl Malone Toyota’s 3rd Annual Jambalaya Fundraiser for DART will also take place at Super 1, in the parking lot from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A wide variety of speakers will be live on Q94.1 FM throughout the Radiothon, sharing their own experiences with DART as the local nonprofit hopes to raise $80,000 throughout the event.

This year’s Radiothon is perhaps the most critical for the organization as domestic violence programs throughout the country received a 50% cut in Crime Victims Assistance funds from the federal government this year.

“We’ve always had that funding,” DART community advocate and Radiothon Co-Chair Terrie Queen Autrey said.

Combined with the loss of a smaller grant, DART is down $90,000 in funding this year.

Headquartered in Ruston, the organization serves victims in a seven-parish region by providing a shelter, crisis intervention, counseling, children’s services and more.

Autrey said DART hopes to maintain the same level of services to survivors and their families as they provided before the cuts, through fundraising efforts like the Radiothon.

Speakers include members of local law enforcement, elected officials like Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker and 3rd Judicial District Attorney John Belton, emergency services officials like Ruston Fire Chief Chris Womack, multiple survivors of domestic violence, and a host of community partners and advocates.

One speaker on the slate is Kimberly Danforth, whose husband was convicted of rape and sexual battery against her in 3rd Judicial District Court in Ruston this spring.

Danforth is now an advocate with Project Celebration, a Shreveport nonprofit serving domestic violence survivors across northwest Louisiana.

“This year we have a huge amount of speakers who have never been on the Radiothon before,” Autrey said.

Jambalaya lunches, prepared by Karl Malone Toyota service and parts manager Rusty Wilfong, will go for $10 a plate with all proceeds going to DART. Large orders go for $200 a pan or $100 for half-pans.

Those wanting large orders are encouraged to call (318) 255-1387 ahead of time so the orders can be filled more quickly.

A brand new facet of the day’s fundraising efforts will also be on display at Super 1 throughout the Radiothon.

Professional photographer and Ruston native Paul Burns will launch an online auction of his photograph of Ruston’s Dixie Center for the Arts, titled “Date Night,” on Thursday to raise more money for DART.

The photo will be framed and on display throughout the event.

In addition to the likely highdollar auction of the main photo, regular prints and signed special edition prints will also be available for purchase.

Now in its 29th year of operation, DART’s work remains vital, Autrey said. There were 130 domestic violence arrests and 10 attempted homicides in Lincoln Parish last year alone.

“To see the testimony of what’s hapening to some people right here in our community, the torture and the fatalities… it seems like in the last 10 years, our work at DART has become something the community is really invested in.”

Donors can send their gifts to DART at P.O. Box 1223, Ruston, LA 71273, donate online at dartla. org or come by Super 1 throughout the Radiothon and donate in person.