Photographers help provide free portraits to area needy Saturday in Cape

Goldie Benefield remembers a day last year when she felt special and, well, pretty.

She heard about an event in Cape Girardeau called Help Potraits, and Benefield, 75, along with her husband Bill, 76, saw an opportunity to get their children something for Christmas on a fixed income.

More than 200 others did the same, making a busy day for the event's organizer, Sheri Grippo of Bella Bambino Photography.

Help Portraits is an event held nationwide that Grippo has localized to benefit families who may not be able to afford professional photography services. The event this year includes the services of 12 professional photographers from Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois, as well as makeup application and hairstyling from professionals from local salons. Families or individuals have their photos taken for free and are given 8-by-10-inch copies they can use as a keepsake or give as gifts.

This year's event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the House of Hope at 1000 Ranney Ave. in Cape Girardeau.

Grippo said that while the event does target needy families, there are no strings attached and anyone may come and have their photo taken by a professional.

For a family that couldn't afford to go and have professional photographs made, the event was a blessing, Benefield said. She and her husband plan to attend again this year.

Last year Benefield called Grippo before the event and explained that she still suffered health problems from heart surgery and a stroke she had several years ago. She was worried, she said, that it would be hard for her husband to get her to the event on time for her hair and makeup to be done and for photos to be taken. Benefield said Grippo told her just to come when she was ready.

"When we got there, they all had so much enthusiasm," Benefield said. "They took me back there and made me look really good. It made me feel good when I was a little bit down."

Grippo said she wanted to start the event to give families and individuals something they may not have had before.

"It allows people to have some luxuries they maybe wouldn't have otherwise," she said.

What the event is as well, Grippo said, is a call for other photographers to use their talent to help the community.

"You have a lot of photographers that are competitors," she said, "but this is not for a portfolio. This is about giving to other people."

During the event there will also be snacks and drinks available as well as live music to entertain during wait time, Grippo said. Photos will be taken on a first-come, first-served. No appointments are necessary.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

1000 Ranney Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO