By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—This year’s Henry County Helping Hand Radio Auction has been put to bed for another year—with a grand total of $306,821 raised for a long list of local non-profit organizations.
The last day is always “Open To Anyone Day” and a total of $10,856 was raised with 11 slates of donated items.
As is tradition, the Helping Hand auction is always opened by volunteer Auctioneer Fred McLean and closed by McLean, as well. In his closing remarks this afternoon, McLean said, “Henry County never ceases to amaze me”, noting all the volunteer man hours and organization that goes into the two-month auction each year.
“Just think about it,” McLean said. He calculated there were 10,000 items donated and sold this year, with hundreds of volunteers working behind the scenes. A total of 172 organizations participated this year, organizing their members to donate the items—which usually are homemade culinary delicacies.
Proceeds this year will go to 88 non-profit organizations that have qualified. Checks will be distributed in March by the Helping Hand board.
Each year, the Helping Hand Auction is broadcast every day by our radio stations, with the daily and Saturday afternoon auctions aired on KQ105.5.
Helping Hand began January 8 and is held at the Henry County Fairgrounds. Last year, over $350,000 was raised, but this year there were several days when roads in Henry Co. were ice-covered and people could not bring their items to the fairgrounds.
Photo: Mary Lacy checks out her items on the last day from Phillip Wells, Sharon Kummerow, Susan Bell and Martha Stewart. (Shannon McFarlin photo).
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