Some offerings have been lovingly used and cleaned for their new life, while others are bought new and donated to Tipp Monroe Community Services for the cause. Three Coach bags were donated last month by a local business owner who included in the package scarves and wristlets for the lucky bidders.
Last year’s auction raised $12,200 for Lunch on Us, which will begin its ninth year of summer lunches June 11. The program started after Community Services heard concerns about the number of youths not eating lunch during summer months when they were out of school.
The program has grown from 850 meals served the first year to 6,674 last year. The program initially was six weeks; last year at 10 weeks. Volunteers from across the community assist from local Rotary Club members to school administrators and staff.
This year’s auction, the sixth, will have a St. Patrick’s Day theme. A new feature will be a photo opportunity area with props for use by those posing for a quick photo. Also new this year was an official organizing committee, whose volunteers work to make decorations, secure donations and make sure the event runs smoothly.
“Our very last purse is going to be a gold-colored purse with lots of good things in it. I thought it would be fun,” said Carol English of Community Services and one of the auction’s organizers.
“It’s a lot of fun and it’s so worthwhile,” she said of the event.
The lunch program costs more than $67,000 a year to run, said Kathy Taylor, director of Community Services.
She said the program “is pulling the community together for a purpose – to make sure we don’t have hungry kids in Tipp City.” The program support comes “from all directions” and people of all ages, Taylor said.
More information on the Lunch on Us program is available at Community Services at 937-667-8631.
Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com
How to Go
What: Sixth Annual Purse Auction
Who: Tipp Monroe Community Services
Why: Benefit summer lunch program
When: March 17
Where: Tipp City United Methodist Church
How much: $20 per person, $140 for table of eight
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