By Marilyn Miller
“Hungerfest 2026,” a dessert auction fundraiser for the United Christian Assistance Program (UCAP), will take place this coming Thursday, April 9 at 6 p.m. at the Minden First Methodist Church.
For a mere $5.00, attendees can bid on every type of dessert available, made by some of the best bakers in the community. The evening will include a Vegetable Beef Soup and crackers supper, music by Tim Kennedy & Leah Lummus, and the entertaining antics of auctioneer “cousins” Dr. Richard Campbell and Tracy Campbell.
This will be the 40th year of UCAP’s serving Minden and south Webster Parish. The program was organized in 1985 and was chartered in 1986 by Gladys and Oscar Hair, who remained active until their deaths.
Rev. Steve Raulerson made the first donation to UCAP in February of 1985. The $300 gift was made on behalf of his congregation at St. John’s Episcopal Church. The first elected officers and board were Jane Sistrunk, chairman of the board, St. John’s; Marsha Countis, secretary, St. Paul’s Catholic Church; Rev. Augie Aamodt, vice chairman, Lakeview United Methodist Church; and Muriel Elkins, treasurer, Seventh Day Adventist Church.
UCAP’S mission is to provide area residents with emergency assistance services, including clothing, household items, food, and utility or rent assistance. Help to stranded transients is also available.
“One hundred percent of the volunteers for UCAP (including the director), are unpaid,” said current director Charlotte Jones. And 99 percent of the money that goes to support the program is raised through donations.
Current officers are Tommy Davis, president; Mary Seney, secretary; Kevin McCann, treasurer; John Earnhardt, Judy Holloway and Dan Shikiskis, board members; and director Charlotte Jones.
Volunteering for everything from data entry to food deliveries are Norma Bullock, Robert Clark, Lois Crochet, Judy Holloway, Linda Rogers, Mary Seney, Linda Simmons, Charlotte Jones, Larry Brown, Mark Carver, Steve Cooper, Tommy Davis, George French, Judy Holloway, Jerry Ketchell, Kevin McCann, Bro. Jim and Margie Wallace, Parilee Anderson, Bobbye Hawkins, Shelly Quayhagen, James Quayhagen.
Table sponsors for this year’s “Hungerfest” are Hoyt Bellamy, Coca Cola Bottling Co. of Minden, Inc.; Friends of UCAP, Lakeview Methodist Church (Janet Ash), McInnis Insurance, Robert Moorehead, Shaffer, Cloud, Branch & McDaniel; Jim & Margie Wallace, and Woods Tank, Inc.
“Hungerfest 2026” workers will include Janet Ash, Norma Bullock, Jerry Jetchell, Linda Simmons, Mary Seney, Linda Rogers, Margie Wallace, Marsha Watts, Karen Kelly Yates, Sandra Moorehead, Melanie Parks, Charlotte Edwards, and Madison Fread.
UCAP is located off Miller Street near downtown Minden. Donations may be dropped by or mailed to P.O. Box 314, Minden, LA 71058-0314. For more information, call 318-377-6804. The office and pantry are open from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.