A local downtown restaurant and non-profit agency are teaming up to help infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities and delays.

Treaders, 1309 Main, will host a special-event night from 5-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, when 10 percent of the receipts will go to the Invest in Kids campaign at Sunflower Diversified Services.

Invest in Kids is the ongoing effort to raise money for Sunflower’s Early Education Center at 1312 Patton Road. A small portion of the money raised will be earmarked for need-based scholarships at Incredible Years Preschool, a Sunflower entity that is open to all children – those developing typically and those with delays.

"This special evening is for families and friends of the Early Ed Center and our preschool," said Connie Oetken, Sunflower director of development. "It includes free use of the arcade games and the play room at Treaders.

"We can’t thank the Treaders staff enough for their generosity," Oetken added. "It is gratifying when a local business reaches out to help Sunflower families."

Linn Hogg, Treaders manager, noted that the deli restaurant is "about family and community. We feel there is nothing more important than investing in our local youth. All children should have a place to visit, eat and have fun in a safe environment where they and their families are celebrated.

"Sunflower’s Invest in Kids campaign is a shining example of the type of program that Treaders and the MyTown organization find valuable," Hogg added.

Anyone who cannot attend the event but would like to donate to the campaign is encouraged to send a donation to Sunflower, P.O. Box 838, Great Bend, KS 67530.