Gems of Hope boosts Boehm Center
What: Jewelry, gemstones and vacation packages were up for bids when Gems for Hope was held at the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club. About 200 guests bids in a silent auction for 100 pieces of jewelry and a live auction led by auctioneer Jed Mescon for six gift packages.
Benefits: Raised more than $80,000 for the Walter Boehm Birth Defects Center.
Cotton Ball Association donates to three nonprofits
What: Representatives of the Chattanooga Cotton Ball Association made $2,000 donations to three area nonprofits recently. The $6,000 was raised through proceeds from the 79th annual Chattanooga Cotton Ball.
Benefits: Agencies receiving donations were Northside Neighborhood House, Little Miss Mag Child Care Center and Children's Home/ Chambliss Shelter.
Church feeds 200 at early Thanksgiving dinner
What: Members of Dallas Bay Baptist Church, Northgate campus, hosted a free Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless, the elderly and families in need in the Hixson community on Nov. 2. Church member Mary Stephenson said women of the church prepared a meal that included deep-frying 25 turkeys to be served with dressing and all the trimmings. Sunday school classes prepared door-prize gift bags, and church members and Hixson businesses donated items to fill 50 goody bags for children attending. Children's bags included new gloves, toboggans, socks, games, coloring books and toys. A rack of donated coats was on hand for visitors in need of a coat to select a free one.
Benefits: More than 200 people came to the free meal. Church member Terry Adams provided transportation for John Calvin Apartment residents to attend; the church hired a school bus driver to pick up others who did not have a ride. A church member served as an interpretor for Hispanic guests.