Americas Best Community competition is around the corner for the next stage of 15 community candidates to be announced as semifinalist tomorrow, January 13th.
The City of Jasper is among the current 50 quarter-finalists communities to be considered. Many who call Jasper home are actively supporting, including Scott Saalman a leader of the group Will Read and Sing for Food. Sallman and the group has invested time, commitment, and is self-less to the cause of raising money in the Jasper community since 2011.
Since then over $54,600 have been raised for over 23 different charities.
“Dollar by Dollar. Show by Show” that’s the way the organization ‘Will Read and Sing for Food’ indicates their purpose where a mix of humorous essays and live music is used to bring the community together for a beneficial cause.
Saalman, the Communications Director for Kimball Electronics, expresses that Will Read and Sing for Food’ was initiated after his volunteer work with Community Food Bank. As the organization’s efforts grew, an event with the Dubois County Community Foundation at the Astra theater gathered nearly 500 people in their audience.
Saalman who has called Jasper his home for the last 25 years says, Jasper is a caring community and has always seen it in many different ways and has also seen it through the contributions.
Will Read and Sind for Food brings local and professional talent to their performances and this January 21st at the Dubois County Museum, there will be a show presented by (Saii IOTA Saii) Summer Language and Literacy Camp beginning at 7 pm.
Sallman says it’s not just the show, it’s the caring audience that helps make it a success.
Saalman says it can show the rest of America that a place like Jasper does indeed hold value to each other and value as a community as Jasper looks to be a finalists for the America’s Best Communities competition.