Banding together to help needy children

On Thursday night eight bands will team up with eight downtown Cape Girardeau bars to help collect money and toys for needy families.

The Happy Slapowitz's Toy Bash has for many years been a way for local bands and downtown bars to donate to Toys for Tots during the holidays.

What started out in one bar, in recent years has expanded to today's eight, said Ryan Eftink, one of many who organize the event.

Bands performing are some of the biggest names in local music: The Intention, Mike Renick, Bruce Zimmerman and Ken Keller, Headley Grange, Tone Def All-Stars, Human Zoo, Lower Downtown Jazz Quartet and Us Instead. Bars participating are Rude Dog Pub, The Library, Hot Shots, Bucker Brewing Co., Pour House, Mixing 10, LoDo and Bel-Air Bar and Grill.

The bands donate their time and the bars donate the space. A $20 T-shirt purchase in advance, a new toy valued at $10 or a $10 cash donation gets patrons into all the venues. Participants will receive a pulled pork barbecue meal cooked by Smokin' Brothers. Food will be served from 6 to 8 p.m., with music starting at 8:30 p.m.

The event is for all ages, though individual bars have discretion on whether to let in people younger than 21.

To buy a T-shirt or for more information, find the Happy Slapowitz's Toy Bash page on Facebook or call Eftink at 573-587-6597.

msanders@semissourian.com

388-3652