Vacationing benefits local nonprofit organizations

JACKSON Mo. (KBSI) – If you missed your vacation time this summer there is still an opportunity for sailing away during the winter season and for a good cause.

People gather at the SEMO Food Bank in Jackson Missouri for a meeting to talk about the upcoming river cruise next November through December.

Bethany Byrd is the owner of Bethany Byrd Associate Extreme Vacations; she set up this river cruise with Avalon River Cruise.

The cruise is a six-night seven day stay. For every river cruise ticket that is sold $250 will go back to Semo Food Bank. 

“The Semo Food bank is very near and dear to my heart. There’s a lot of kids and adults that go without food every day. I’m going to make sure that we take care of those people and so we want to do something that also brings notice to the food bank and then also how exciting is it to go during the Christmas market season and it’s the best of both worlds the food bank and you get to travel.”

Byrd enjoys helping local nonprofit organizations but also bringing light to midwestern vacation lines that are not well known.

“Why not do a really nice collaborative event with the SEMO Food bank and then also river cruising itself because that’s something that’s not really well known around here. People know the ocean cruise lines, but they don’t know the river lines.”

Joey Keys is the CEO of the Semo Food Bank. He enjoys working with partnerships like Bethany to bring more of a light to a nonprofit organization like the food bank.

Keys says they have had a good turnout so far today. 

“It’s really great when you see businesses want to get back to the community part with us because it really takes. It meets the needs of Southeast Missouri. We have some highest rates included in the state and when you have a private organization or company like Bethany Byrks Associate that wants to have a partnership with us. I’m always open to that because it helps raise money to get back to those facing hunger.”

Keys hopes that he gets to partner with more people like Bethany to continue to make a difference and get funding for the food bank. 

“Always looking for new partnerships with business with the business community. It is really good to see business owners who want to take initiative to get back to the community and the people that are in the world facing hunger in our area.”

There will be more meetings in the future to discuss the upcoming 2025 river cruise.