After discussing several possible fundraising ideas at Wednesday’s board meeting — a cookout, a fashion show, an event honoring vets, a cocktail and cupcake event — Keep America Beautiful board members came up with a new fundraising idea, or at least new for the local branch.
This never-before held fundraiser would be a yard sale/auction combination.
Individually donated items from both KAB members, the public and organizations will be available for purchase at the yard sale. No vendors will be allowed. The auction — both open and maybe some silent bids — for select items will be held immediately after the traditional yard sale.
Venues at which to hold the event are still are being discussed, but Stuart Elementary School was one suggestion.
Music and concession stands with food will enhance the party atmosphere and add to the festivities.
If possible, a Block Party Trailer for food preparation and games, including bouncy rooms, also will be provided.
Currently, this first big KAB yard sale/auction might be held sometime in early fall.
And any items that might not sell will be donated to an organization like Habitat for Humanity.
For more information on volunteering or donating items or money, call Joanne Maskew, executive director of the KAB, at 559-3307 or email her at clevebradkab@charterinternet.com.
In other business:
— Volunteers are needed by KAB to help run its free annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day to be held April 7 at the Tri-State Exhibition Center. Hours will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Acceptable items include automotive and marine products, home maintenance and improvement products, home lawn and garden products, electronics, and miscellaneous items, such as pool chemicals, photo processing chemicals, medicines, aerosols, mercury thermostats and thermometers, and fluorescent tubes. Sponsors include KAB, Santek Waste Services Inc., Bradley County and Cleveland Utilities. CU will include a flyer about the event in 34,500 of next month’s bills. For more information, call 303-7101.
— A London planetree was chosen by Cheryl Dunson, a member of the KAB board, in honor of her recently deceased father, Peter Green, to be placed near Dunson’s Santek Environmental office along the Greenway. She chose this particular tree because her father was from England. A plaque also will mark the memorial tree.
— McDonald’s on 25th Street earned KAB’s January Neighborhood Beautification Award. John Deere Tractor on APD 40 is slated for February’s award.
— KAB has received a $2,000 grant from the George R. Johnson Family Foundation.
— Maskew recently attended a KAB environmental retreat where newly developed environmental brochures/pamphlets and books on topics such as littering and waste disposal were given out to members. These latest, up-to-date brochures can be given out to educators and schools. “They’re amazing,” Maskew said.
