By LAURA BROOKHART / Community Columnist

When Kim McCoy relocated her business, Tougie Baby, to Helena one of her first questions was “What types of events does the city host to help build business and foster community?” The answer she found was simply none.

She had recently moved from a community in Florida that hosted First Friday events that were hugely successful and helped small businesses make ends meet in a time where the economy was crushing them. She decided to bring the idea of First Friday to life here in Helena.

First Fridays are popping up all over the nation and are being met with enthusiasm and participation; Helena is no different. Actually, in Helena the enthusiasm is overwhelming and the participation is more than was anticipated.

First Friday is a family friendly event that will be held the first Friday of each month, beginning in November from 6-9 p.m. Each month has a different theme, so there is always a different mix of happenings. November’s theme is “Helena Gives Back.”

Many non-profit organizations will be on hand – maybe some folks will sign up to ring the bell for the Salvation Army or will be moved to volunteer with the Shelby Humane Society.

There will be plenty of opportunity for our citizens to make a difference. There also will be several collection sites for canned good donations. These canned goods will be given to the Salvation Army in hopes of helping them feed just a few more families during the holiday season.

Of course, you can’t have this type of event without inflatable houses, face painting, music, games, give-aways, prizes, sales, and more! All of the family friendly activities are free, and more than 50 vendors are expected to participate.

In essence, there is something in each First Friday for everyone. It is a great way for businesses to network, it helps breathe life back into Helena’s community and it keeps your tax dollars at home. It’s about local growth, family and building solid neighborhood relationships.