By Staff Writer Dave Domezik
MONTEVALLO This Friday, June 27, the Montevallo Sister City Commission will hold its annual Jail-N-Bail fundraiser to benefit local students who are traveling to Echizen, Japan, giving community members the opportunity to lock up local leaders for a worthy cause.
During the event, which will be held at Medders Family Farm and Farmers Market from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., guests can donate to a special foreign exchange program while also enjoying fresh fruits, veggies, baked products, and canned goods.
The fundraiser’s whole revenues will be used to cover the travel costs of Montevallo youngsters who are taking part in the July 5–14, 2025, Sister City Exchange to Echizen, Japan. The only expense that participants must pay for is student airfare, which is directly funded by the funds raised and is fully tax deductible.
A fun element is added by the Jail-N-Bail concept, where supporters can donate to get local officials released from custody during the event. Donations can be made with cash, checks, PayPal, or Venmo.
According to Kelli Bennitt, a board member of the Montevallo Sister City Commission, we have Montevallo residents who give their time and energy to our cause. For the in-person part of it, we will be at Medders Farm. The funds support the pupils’ summer trip to Echizen, Japan.
This year’s group consists of two chaperones and seven Montevallo-based students who will stay with host families in Echizen and fully immerse themselves in the local way of life by going to school, seeing the ancient town, and visiting museums.
“We try to come up with different fundraisers to help support these kids and make this cost as low as possible for them because Montevallo is a pretty rural area,” Bennitt said. Without the community’s assistance, children would never be able to travel and see different cultures and regions of the world.
The collaboration between Montevallo and Echizen started in 1995 with an art exchange focused on pottery, a craft that both communities are highly renowned for. In 2008, the two cities formally became Sister Cities. Since then, the biannual exchange has given students a firsthand look at different cultures around the world.
According to Bennitt, you get to see how a civilization and culture that are different from your own act and behave. It truly helps you appreciate diversity and widens your view of the world.
The fundraiser will also include a raffle, with tickets costing $2 each, in addition to the Jail-N-Bail. To win, a person does not need to be there. You can buy tickets using PayPal or at the Montevallo Sister City booth. Online bidders are required to give their contact details and the item they are bidding on.
A $50 gift card to Falcon Art Supplies, two $50 gift cards to Montevallo restaurants, an Igloo Cooler from ACE Hardware, a tote/cooler bag from Blue Phrog Gallery, a pie and peanut butter from Medders Farm, a handmade quilt from SK Quilts Studio/Six Kids Quilts, and Lemon Moon Teas are among the raffle prizes.
Numerous well-known faces can be found on the complete list of participants in the Jail-N-Bail campaign, including:
Director of the Parnell Memorial Library, Marissa Wilson
Sydney Aguilar-Baugh, the city of Montevallo’s youth sports director
Dr. JiJi Davis (UM Associate Professor and Elementary Program Coordinator)
Brad Davis, the city of Montevallo’s fire chief
Courtney Bennett (Montevallo Main Street Executive Director)
Sarah Hogan, director of Impact Montevallo
Kenneth Dukes (District 3 of the Montevallo City Council)
Steve Gilbert, the city clerk and treasurer of Montevallo
Lisa Shapiro, the assistant to the mayor of Montevallo
Beth House, an English teacher at Montevallo High School
Adele Nelson, Executive Director of the Montevallo Chamber of Commerce
Karen Evans, a magistrate and court clerk
Tena Niven, a former coach and teacher at Montevallo High School
David King (District 1 of the Montevallo City Council)
Michelle Kyzer, the assistant city clerk and treasurer for Montevallo
Sharon Williams, the Montevallo Payroll and Accounts Payable Coordinator
TaKisha Motley, a magistrate and office clerk from Montevallo
Kirk Hamby, the Director of Public Works at Montevallo
Jennifer Toliver, chief assistant for the Montevallo Police Department
Martha Ann Eisenberg (District 5 of the Montevallo City Council)
Bill Lawson, a radio personality, Dollar
Will Cholewisnki, the proprietor of Chubbfather’s
Sonya Swords (Montevallo City Council, District 4)
Lelia Mitchell (District 2, Montevallo City Council)
Mayor of Montevallo, Rusty Nix
Montevallo Chief of Police Jeremy Littleton
Jon Parker (District 3 of the Shelby County Commission)
Representative Russell Bedsole of District 49, Alabama
According to Bennitt, the broader mission of the Montevallo Sister City Commission is to open students eyes to the world beyond their immediate surroundings.
What I really love about this program is that we try really hard to provide students with an opportunity that they otherwise would never get, she said. It’s quite eye-opening to discover different towns and lifestyles.
