Two girls from the El Salvadoran village of El Papaturro pose for a photo with a hat and sunglasses they borrowed from visitors from Lawrence. The Lawrence-El Papaturro Friendship Committee is holding a rice-and-beans fundraiser for its efforts in the refugee town.

No Saturday night plans? Consider having a meal to help hundreds in need.

From 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday at the ECM building, 1204 Oread, the Lawrence-El Papaturro Friendship Committee is hosting a benefit dinner and art show for the tiny refugee town of El Papaturro, El Salvador.

The dinner will include traditional foods from El Papaturro — rice and beans, tortillas and cabbage salad — plus desserts and beverages. The art show portion will display work from Sarah Birmingham, a volunteer to El Papaturro whose works will feature the history of El Papaturro and Lawrence’s relationship in it. For sale will be fair trade coffee, books and photos. Live music will also be played at the BYOB event.

Lawrence has had a sistering relationship since 1994 with the Central American town, which is made up of refugees whose homes and lives were forever changed by the end of El Salvador’s civil war in 1992.

Friendship committee member Jennifer Kongs says the group hopes to raise money specifically for a trip to El Papaturro over the 2011 spring break. The group is taking students from both Kansas and Kansas State universities to work in the fields, help with the community garden and work on youth projects.