A steel drum band, arts and crafts and playing miniature golf are all ways to help children in the Ames community this weekend.

The Beloit Residential Treatment Center, 1323 Northwestern Ave., will host Beloit Blue Sky Day on Sunday. Blue Sky Day is an event that raises money for the children who live at the center.

Ed Ruppert, Blue Sky Day director and Beloit mental health counselor, said the Beloit Residential Treatment Center is for severely emotionally disturbed children.

Ruppert said the three main purposes of the event are to raise funds for the children, to raise awareness and to raise hope.

“This is a population of very, very vulnerable children,” Ruppert said.

“We need to love these kids. I’m convinced, at some level, when they see the Ames community helping them, it challenges their notion that they are unlovable or invaluable.”

The children at Beloit are primarily between the ages of six and 13.

“They come from horrendous abuse situations,” Ruppert said.

Blue Sky Day begins at 2 p.m. with a 5K run. For students or adults who wish to participate, there is a $15 fee, and a T-shirt is included. The bike ride and walk event starts at 3 p.m., and food and drinks will be served from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Ruppert said the children’s drawings are put on the T-shirts to make the shirts unique to the event.

In addition to these events, Blue Sky Day will have a sidewalk art contest, an arts and crafts and game booth, mini-golf and live entertainment. The seven piece steel drum band, the Jumbies, will perform for those attending the fund-raiser.

Ruppert said attendants of Blue Sky Day will be able to tour the facilities where the Beloit children live. He said all profits from the event will go for clothing, toys, gas costs, eyeglasses, family therapy and play equipment for the children.

Rod Mayes, executive director of Beloit Treatment Center, said the goal of Blue Sky Day is to raise between $7,000 and $8,000.

“We usually raise around five to six thousand dollars, but last year we raised $9,000,” Mayes said. “[This money] goes directly toward something that affects the children.”

Mayes said many organizations help to contribute to the event.

“The high school key clubs from Ames, Nevada and Gilbert [as well as] the freshman council and human development club from Iowa State help out,” he said.

Amy Swenson, a member of the advisory council for Lutheran Social Services of Ames, said she enjoys participating in the event every year.

“What I gain is personal satisfaction from helping out,” Swenson said. “What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon?”

Swenson also said the children of Beloit are looking forward to the event.

“There is a tremendous amount of excitement,” she said. “For kids in their situation, it’s huge for them.”

Ruppert explained that even if people wish to participate but cannot attend the event, they may still participate as a Ghost Rider.

“If people can’t be here but want to offer support through generosity, they can donate $10,” he said.