COOKING SCHOOL BENEFITS CHARITIES

Sales are going well for the Southern Living Cooking Show scheduled April 30 at the Show Me Center.

Paula Lewis, secretary of the Cape Girardeau County Area Medical Alliance, hopes that tickets sell out. A sell-out show will mean more money for the nine area charities that will share in more than $10,000 from the ticket proceeds.

Buying a ticket is a good way to benefit an area charity, said Lewis.

The benefactors:

-- Habitat for Humanity

-- Humane Society of Southeast Missouri

-- American Cancer Society

-- Lutheran Family & Children's Services

-- Southeast Network Against Sexual Violence

-- Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts

-- Teen Challenge

-- SEMO Alliance for Disabilities

-- FISH

The Medical Alliance board of director choose the list of charities after reviewing letters submitted from the local groups. To qualify for donations, the organizations had to demonstrate how their efforts benefit the health and well-being of persons living in the community, said Lewis.

Southern Living professionals will perform two Cooking School demonstrations April 30. Tickets may be purchased for the 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. show. More than 4,000 people are expected to attend the two shows at the Show Me Center. About 80 exhibitors will also display a wide variety of goods and services before and after the two shows.

Tickets are $3. They are available at Schnucks and all Southeast Missourian offices, 301 and 430 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, 108 S. Hope in Jackson, the Scott County Signal in Chaffee, the Banner Press in Marble Hill, the Standard Democrat in Sikeston, the Daily Statesman in Dexter and the Daily Democrat in Kennett and from all Medical Alliance members.