Purse time is coming next week to Audrain County.
The third annual United Way Power of the Purse will be held Sept. 4 at the Missouri Military Academy Gymtorium, with the social beginning at …
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Purse time is coming next week to Audrain County.
The third annual United Way Power of the Purse will be held Sept. 4 at the Missouri Military Academy Gymtorium, with the social beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the dinner at 6 p.m. The proceeds from this event will support the United Way agencies, which provide services and programs in Audrain County.
This annual event allows people to donate purses that can be donated for an auction the night of the event.
The United Way of Audrain County Power of the Purse Committee said in a donor letter that United Way agencies it helps are A+ for Education, Agape House of Vandalia, Audrain County Crisis Intervention Services (ACCIS), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri, Central Missouri Community Action (CMCA), Children’s Therapy and Early Education School, First Chance for Children, Mexico Senior Center, St. Joseph Early Learning Center, The Help Center and Uplift Mid-MO.
This is the United Way of Audrain County’s only fundraiser, said Gina Raines, past president of the United Way of Audrain County board. United Way’s chapter here has to have successful fundraisers because it doesn’t make enough money from its campaigns to survive anymore.
“This has been a way for us to continue United Way and help the agencies,” Raines said.
She explained how the Power of the Purse event started.
“The hospital used to put on the Heart to Heart luncheon, and that was a fundraiser for them and they had a purse auction,” Raines said. “And everybody was very involved and it was very well supported.”
So when a fundraiser event was being devised, a Power of the Purse Committee member’s family had experience doing the fundraiser in another location with an idea of the Power of the Purse, which is a national United Way fundraiser, and “(committee members) leaned heavily on her and her family for that,” Raines said.
For the purse donations, they do not have to be a purse, as a bag of any kind will work.
“You, your business, or a group of friends can get creative and put a fabulous bag together,” the donor letter said. “Feel free to pack things inside of your bag as well. We ask that your donation be a minimum of a $50 value and be new.”
Purse donors are encouraged to be creative with their purses, and the top 10-15 highest valued bags will be included in the live auction, with the remaining bags being included in the silent auction.
This year’s event will honor Anna Rentschler, former executive director for United Way of Audrain County, who died on July 23.
Organizers will be preselling the tickets to the event in two ways:
The deadline to purchase a table or commit to a purse donation is Friday, and people are asked to drop off all purse donations between now and Friday during business hours at Commerce Bank. To make other arrangements for a purse donation, please contact a board member. If people are unable to attend the event, but would still like to donate, they may mail it with attention to Samantha Wilson at 1127 Adams St., Mexico, MO 65265 or contact a board member.
