Even in the midst of celebration, local organizations are finding a way to do some good by organizing a Benefit Raffle Oct. 19 during the Delta Hot Tamale Festival.
The Mississippi Delta Back the Blue Fund, along with Greenville Renaissance Scholars Endowment Fund and Moore Maple Neighborhood Initiative Fund, which are under the umbrella of the Community Foundation of Washington County, are collaborating for the first time to raise funds for causes that are significant to their ideals and credences.
Debbie Lamberson, organizer of the Mississippi Delta Back the Blue, said raising the funds is a two-fold mission to help garner respect for law enforcement agencies whether they are on a local, county or federal level.
Last year, the fund helped the Greenville Police Station to purchase body armor, according to Lamberson.
“We try to help certain agencies and we pick one a year,” Lamberson said. “This year, we’re helping the Washington County Sheriff’s Department buy body cams and tasers.”
Lamberson also said they try to assist local agencies with purchasing essential items that may not necessarily be covered in their annual budget.
There will be a tent set up on festival grounds where tickets will be sold at $10 for a slew of great prizes as well as a silent auction which will feature a number of luxurious resort packages, however, items are still being added to the auction list up until Friday.
Silent auction items include:
- B & B package (The Thompson House, Cicero’s Restaurant, champagne from McCray’s, etc.)
- B & B package (Cabin on the Bogue, Vito’s Marketplace certificate, champagne from McCray’s, etc.)
- Seven nights at the Veranda in Antigua in the Caribbean
- Seven nights at Pineapple Beach in Antigua in the Caribbean
- Seven nights at Palm Island Resort in the Grenadines – private island in the Caribbean
- Seven nights at Hammock Cove in Antigua in the Caribbean
- Seven nights at Club Barbados in Barbados in the Caribbean
- Seven Nights at the St. James in Antigua in the Caribbean
- Seven nights at St. James Morgan Bay in St. Lucia in the Caribbean; and
- Seven nights at Los Establos in Panama in Central America.
Raffle items include:
- Crawfish cooker and pot (from Lowe’s);
- Two 52-qt. steamer stock pots (from Greenville Pawn);
- MSU Little Bales of Cotton footstool;
- Lillo’s gift basket;
- Gift certificate from Paws and Claws Grooming;
- Tee shirts and posters from Highway 61 Blues Museum;
- Gas powered blower;
- Goody bag from Planters Bank & Trust;
- Goody basket from Southern Bancorp;
- Basket from A & A Pharmacy;
- Two Yeti cups from Renegade;
- Gift certificate from The River Café in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn, New York, plus self-guided walking tour of DUMBO;
- Art work;
- Fifty minutes of business coaching via telephone with Cindy Clemens, certified life and business coach;
- I Love New York gift basket;
- Woodlawn Cemetery trolley tour in the Bronx, New York – tour of some very historic burial;
- Sites at this famous cemetery in the Bronx, New York;
- Chelsea Market and the Highline Food and Culture Walking Tour in New York City;
- Four five-hour tutoring packages; and
- Two Admission packages to Camp Renaissance.
