Paris, Tenn.–The 2021 Henry County Helping Hand Radio Auction has been cancelled, but plans are underway to provide an alternative fundraiser that will both provide funds for local organizations and still comply with health and safety regulations.
The Helping Hand Radio Auction has a lengthy history and provides thousands of dollars each year for a long list of local non-profit organizations. Hundreds of homemade baked goods, casseroles and other goodies along with handmade crafts are auctioned off each year to raise the funds.
The Helping Hand Board of Directors and Officers met Tuesday at Paris City Hall to discuss the 2021 Radio Auction. The Helping Hand Board met earlier this year and new officers are: Stacy Hayes, President; Danny Veazey, Vice President; Susan Bell, Treasurer and Mary Kate Ridgeway, Secretary.
According to a press release issued by the board, after lengthy discussions on options, the Board voted unanimously the best and safest plan was to cancel the in-person auction.
Plans are currently underway for an alternate fundraiser that will hopefully allow Helping Hand to continue to provide funding to local organizations and still comply with State and Federal health and safety guidelines. These new guidelines will apply to the 2021 auction only.
Since this is still in the planning phase, applications will not be accepted until early late winter or early spring of 2021.
Helping Hand Board and Officers are hopeful that a return to the old Helping Hand calendar and format may be held in 2022. According to the press release, “Our goal is to try in every way to reach out and ‘lend a helping hand to those groups in need this year.’ “
Photo: Auctioneer Fred McLean at the mike at the 2018 Helping Hand Auction. (Shannon McFarlin photo).