Alton Community Service League to Host Swing Dance Fundraiser

ALTON - Alton Community Service League will host their biggest fundraiser of the year to assist local nonprofits.

From 7–10 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, community members can stop by Alton VFW Post #1308 for an evening of swing dancing and live music. This year’s dance/concert is themed “Swing Into Spring” and will feature music by the Steve Shininger Swing Band, appetizers catered by Nicky G’s Italian Eats, and plenty of fun raffle and silent auction items. All proceeds go to ACSL’s work to beautify and support the community.

“We’ll have a few more surprises there,” promised Cathy Droste, event chair. “We have a lot of support from the community and also from the ladies in the Service League, and the money that we raise is going to be used to fund grants. Every year, we have a grant cycle where different nonprofits can submit grants to us for funding, and we’ll fund what we can.”

In addition to the live music and appetizers, attendees can enjoy a cash bar, a silent auction, and a “Wheelbarrow of Wine” raffle. The silent auction features many donations from the community, including a gift card “bouquet” and a scratch-off lottery ticket “garden.”

Tickets to the event cost $40 and can be purchased online, at the door, or by calling 618-410-0150. Proceeds go to ACSL and other nonprofits.

As an organization, ACSL collaborates with local nonprofits to support their projects. These nonprofits submit grant applications, and ACSL awards grants to different projects throughout the Riverbend. They primarily fund charitable or beautification efforts.

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“League, when it started out over 70 years ago, was really big into beautification for the area in terms of selling crabapple trees and doing a lot of projects with the Parks and Rec Department and around the city,” Droste explained. “It’s been a big part of what we've done to help the city grow and beautify the city.”

The grant cycle “just ended,” Droste added, so ACSL will be awarding their final grants for this cycle in the coming weeks. The money raised at the April 11 event will fund next year’s cycle.

ACSL previously offered a Community Christmas Gift Wrap fundraiser, which they have since discontinued and replaced with the swing dance/concert. This is their largest fundraiser of the year.

Droste joked that she’s “more of a listener than a dancer,” but she looks forward to joining the community on the dance floor on April 11. She hopes many people come out to support the Alton Community Service League and their efforts to give back. She added that they are always looking for new members and volunteers to carry on their mission of helping others.

“Our main focus of our group is volunteerism,” she added. “Our group is aging a little bit, but we’re still doing as much as we can to help others in the community.”

For more information about the Swing Into Spring dance/concert, click here. To purchase your tickets, click here.

This Featured Article is sponsored by Alton Community Service League. To get your business or organization featured on www.Riverbender.com, contact us at sales@riverbender.com.

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