Telethon ends on high note

By CHRIS MENEES
Staff Reporter
Chimes for Charity ended on a high note Thursday night.
The final night of the organization’s fundraising telethon yielded $13,225.50 in pledges and donations — bringing the four-night telethon’s final tally to $41,577.50.
This leaves Chimes $8,422.50 short of reaching this year’s $50,000 goal.
The amounts raised each night this week during the telethon staged at Union City’s Second Baptist Church increased as the event progressed. Chimes secretary Lindsay Frilling said $7,477 was collected Monday night, followed by $7,980 Tuesday night, $12,895 Wednesday night and, finally, the $13,200-plus Thursday night.
Monetary donations and pledges made during the telethon may be mailed to Chimes for Charity, P.O. Box 661, Union City, TN 38281.
The annual telethon — which features local guests and musical entertainment — is a major fundraiser for the Chimes program, which is sponsored by the Union City Jaycees and J’Cettes and is supported by contributions from individuals, businesses, churches and organizations in the community.
Chimes is now in its 76th year of providing food, clothing and gifts to less fortunate families at Christmas. Activities include a children’s shopping tour for clothing, as well as the giving of gifts to the selected children; the presentation of gift cards to three local nursing homes; and the Christmas Eve delivery of food baskets to less fortunate families and individuals.
Helping in other ways
Chimes will also benefit tonight from the annual Santa’s Village which is under way at the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Ag Pavilion. Chimes’ designated time is 6-9 p.m., during which time volunteers may work on behalf of the Jaycees and J’Cettes.
The more workers present, the more Chimes will benefit from the receipt of non-perishable goods and toys collected as admission from those attending Santa’s Village.
Several businesses in Union City and one in Troy are serving as drop-off locations for toys and non-perishable food items for the 2010 Chimes for Charity campaign. Local residents are asked to donate items by Tuesday.
The drop-off sites include Van Heusen at VF Outlet, Cash Express, First State Bank, Golden Living Center, Miller Family Dental Care, Walmart Supercenter, State Farm Insurance, Union City Housing Authority, Danny Larcom Heating & Air, Ben 2 the Beach Tanning and Sports Base & Susie’s Nurses Uniforms, all in Union City; and Briar Patch Flowers & Gifts in Troy.
What’s next?
Local residents will have three opportunities to volunteer for Chimes for Charity at upcoming events related to the delivery of the food baskets to those in need on Christmas Eve.
The sorting of items will be held Dec. 22 beginning at noon at the Obion County Bus Garage in Troy’s industrial park, followed by the packing of the baskets Dec. 23 starting at 1 p.m. at the bus garage.
The baskets will be delivered Dec. 24 beginning at 7 a.m. to less fortunate families and individuals around Obion County. Route information for helpers will be available at the packing event.
Chimes officials said many volunteers are needed and will be welcomed for all three of the basket-related activities.
Staff Reporter Chris Menees may be contacted by e-mail at cmenees@ucmessenger.com.

Published in The Messenger 12.10.10

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