The Roanoke Rapids Police Club is looking to enhance its summer activities for children.

Friday night at 8 there will be a benefit Christmas show at the Royal Palace Theatre to further that cause.

With the help of Honda of Roanoke Rapids, the club will sponsor the Southern Tradition Band’s It’s Christmas holiday show, a musical comedy that has been performed at the Stewart Theatre in Dunn, said Captain Andy Jackson of the city’s police department. “It has been conducted … for several years in front of packed houses and it’s a great Christmas show for the entire family.”

Admission is a suggested donation of $5, Jackson said. “We want this donation to help fund summer youth programs that are geared toward keeping children out of gangs and keeping kids in baseball, soccer and cheerleading.

“We have sponsorships for programs geared toward structured supervision with community interaction. We try to find positive ways of keeping children on the right path and out of gangs.”

Last year the police club sponsored several teams. “We hope to have funds to do that because we think investing in the youth of the community is a good investment and a good outreach program that helps curtail violence and gangs in the community.”

Hailing from Lillington, the Southern Tradition Band has been around since 2000, Jackson said. “Santa will be there to interact with kids in the audience.”