Chattanooga: Coca-Cola auction helps YMCA

Coca-Cola collectors joined with the Chattanooga Market for a fundraiser Sunday to benefit the North River YMCA.

The Coca-Cola-themed event was part of the YMCA’s campaign to raise $56,000 this year to defray the cost of memberships, swim lessons and child care for needy families. The nonprofit gave away about $240,000 in scholarships last year, according to Executive Director Tripp McCallie.

Visitors to the market bid on about 65 donated items such as exercise equipment, dinner-and-a-movie packages and flowerpots in a silent auction. The Chattanooga Market donated booth fees from the memorabilia collectors to the YMCA, market manager Paul Smith said.

Dressed in white pants and a red T-shirt, collector Linda Prabish, of Chattanooga, sold pieces from her considerable collection. She said she used the money she earned from her sales to bid on an “Indiana Jones” cooler.

E-mail Elizabeth Ryan at eryan@timesfreepress.com