There’s not much you can do with a dollar anymore. And a quarter won’t even get you a phone call. But, as they say, small things do add up.
American Legion Post 214 is hosting Quarter Auctions Friday, Oct. 14 and Friday, Nov. 11, both at 7 p.m., to raise money to help provide Christmas for 150 children in Northwest Georgia this season.
“We’d love to have at least 100 people participate per auction,” said Post spokesperson Judy Nihiser. “It’s a quarter bid up to a dollar bid. We have been successful in the past hosting Quarter Auctions. We raise anywhere from $500 to $1,000 at each Quarter Auction. We have to raise $100 per kid, so we need to raise $15,000.”
Nihiser explained that a Quarter Auction is like a cross between a silent and live auction mixed with a raffle. Once all the bids are in, a number is drawn to determine the winner.
Nihiser said Post members will use the money to buy clothing, shoes and other necessities for children in need at West Side Elementary School, Rossville Middle School and in the Communities in Schools program. The children range in age from 8-17.
The Post is also working to provide Christmas for local veterans and their families.
A Sip, Shop and Paint event on Saturday, Oct. 22 will help benefit that cause. Being held at the Post at 7 p.m., the event includes a wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, shopping with vendors and all the instruction and supplies needed to complete a piece of artwork that evening. The cost per person is $45, though a $25 option is available that does not include the wine tasting.
Money from the Sip, Shop and Paint will go to the Veteran’s Christmas Dinner, an annual event in which the Post opens its doors to feed all local veterans for free. Veterans’ family members can join them for $5 each.
“It’s our way of giving back to our veterans and the people that support our veterans,” said Post Cmdr. Jack Staples. “We don’t do it for us, we do it for them [the veterans].”
Post 214 is also planning a Dec. 3 Santa’s Workshop with 35 vendors and painting workshops, and free cookie decorating and a movie screening for kids. The proceeds will help put together 300 care packages for veterans at the V.A. Hospital in Murfreesboro.
To learn more about any of these events or the Post itself, find “American Legion Post 214” on Facebook or call Judy Nihiser at 423-645-3378.