Bowl-a-thon raises $2,830 for holiday good will

Jessica Bass is only 4 years old, but that didn’t stop her from taking part in North Bowl’s Kids Helping Kids bowl-a-thon on Sunday. Although the bowling ball was almost as big as she is, she knocked down 147 pins in two hours.

She was one of 21 members of North Bowl’s Junior Bowling program who raised money by collecting donations and getting pledges for the number of pins they could topple during the two-hour bowl-a-thon.

More than $2,830 was collected to purchase Christmas gifts and provide a party for children of active-duty military parents.

Jessica’s grandparents, Bruce and Janet Bass, are the directors of North Bowl’s Junior Bowling program and organizers of the event.

Janet Bass said they originally had wanted to show support for the Wayne Foster family.

Daughters Kolette and Kayla Foster are members of the bowling program. Their dad, Wayne, will be deployed on Thanksgiving Day.

“It started out as a way to help one family, but then we decided to help as many families as we could,” said Bass.

Bass said they plan to send out more than 200 invitations for the Christmas party on Dec. 17 at North Bowl, 125 W. Sinto Ave.

The goal is to give each child whose parents are on active duty at least one nice gift.

“This has to be a very stressful time for these families, and we just want to help. We think it will be good for morale,” said Bass.

Santa will appear at the party, and the children will be able to bowl free of charge.

Bass said she hopes to receive additional funds through grants from Wal-Mart and partnerships with area businesses.

More than 100 kids, ages 4 to 21, participate in North Bowl’s Junior Bowling program.

Those who didn’t participate in the bowl-a-thon will be involved in decorating, gift-wrapping and a bake sale they have planned for sometime in December.