Pecans do a lot for Du Quoin: Preceptor Alpha Eta talks about the power of the nut

We hear an awful lot about the high quality charitable holiday projects in Du Quoin, but I want to tell you about the power of the pecan.

Every year we talk about the arrival of the Preceptor Alpha Eta holiday pecans, a powerful package that sells for $9.

But, as this year's sale comes to a close (not many bags left among the sorority sisters) it is amazing where the $1,700 profit goes.

This past year, the chapter voted donations to Five Star Industries, the handicapped workshop, the Du Quoin Food Pantry, the Tree of Life, the Future Business Leaders of America, the Weekend Warriors meals program, Shop With a Cop, the Youth Club Charity Ball, the heart walk, the Shrine Circus, the Perry County Humane Society and the police department Toys for Kids program.

For each $9 bag, you get a health food. Pecans are a rich source of energy and contain health benefiting nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins that are essential for wellness.

The nuts are rich in antioxidants. Regular addition of pecan nuts in the diet helps to decrease total as well as LDL or "bad cholesterol" and increases HDL or "good cholesterol" levels in the blood. Research studies suggest pecans help to prevent coronary artery disease. Pecan nuts are also rich in vitamin E required for healthy skin.

If you want to experience the power of the pecan, there are only a handful of bags left and you can get them by calling Priscilla Pitchford at 542-9306, April Kremer at 318-2033 or State Farm Insurance at 542-8421.