By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–With $25,741 raised, it was a record-breaking first day for the annual Helping Hand Radio Auction today.
Much of the donations received Monday were in memory of the late Fred McLean, a long-time Helping Hand auctioneer and supporter who died last year.
Even before the auction began at 12:30 p.m., $9,350 was received in donations. Then as the auction went on the air, a large contingent from the Paris Kiwanis presented a check for $10,000, the proceeds from last year’s Mexican dinner, in memory of McLean.
Monday’s total also includes $2,000 that McLean himself had donated.
One of today’s auctioneers, Jamie Orr, pledged that he would donate $100 fo each $1,000 raised, also in memory of McLean, which raised today’s grand total from $23,441 to $25,741.
Auctioneers Orr and Andy Collins traded off today’s duties, with Ray Compton set to be Tuesday’s auctioneer. Helping at the phones today were members of the Athena Delphian group.
Each year, the Helping Hand Auction raises thousands of dollars for some 80 local non-profit and public service groups. This year, the auction returned to an in-person format for the first time in two years.
Fourteen slates of items were donated today–some 140 items–from the Paris Kiwanis and Paris Lions Clubs.
Tuesday’s items will be donated by the Henry County Fair Association, Henry County Masonic/OES Martha Chapter, Paris Academy for the Arts, Paris First United Pentecostal Chuch, Poject Bridge and the Moose Lodge.
Photo: Auctioneer Jamie Orr at the mike, with Amy Cathey at left and Rita Reed at right. Shannon McFarlin photo.