By CHRIS MENEES
Staff Reporter
Chimes for Charity ended on a high note Thursday night.
The final night of the organization’s annual radio/TV telethon yielded a whopping $10,107 in pledges and donations — bringing the total raised so far to $30,234.
“What a great night,” Chimes secretary Regina Hendon said late Thursday night as she provided the totals from the final program.
Thursday night’s entertainment was performed by the popular Kare Bear Preschool and Union City Elementary School’s Chorus Kids and Voices of UCES. (See related photo, Page 2.)
“We always have great support from all the groups that performed (Thursday night),” Mrs. Hendon added.
This week’s four-night telethon was a major fund raiser for Chimes, which is in its 78th year of providing food, clothing and toys to less fortunate families around Obion County at Christmas. The program is sponsored by the Union City Jaycees and J’Cettes and supported by community contributions.
The telethon was staged each night at Second Baptist Church in Union City and was aired on local AM radio station WENK-1240 and television station WOBT. Listeners and viewers phoned in pledges to benefit Chimes as they enjoyed quality local entertainment.
The $30,000 raised still leaves Chimes about $25,000 short of meeting this year’s $55,000 goal — all of which will be used to help those in need this Christmas.
Anyone who made a pledge is encouraged to honor their donation by sending it to Chimes for Charity, P.O. Box 661, Union City, TN 38281.
Chimes has already spent over $30,000 on recent shopping tours to provide new winter clothing for less fortunate elementary school and Head Start children countywide. Next week, food will be ordered for food baskets to be delivered to families and individuals in need on Christmas Eve morning.
The community’s help will be needed in sorting, packing and delivering the food baskets. Volunteers may participate in sorting on Dec. 22 starting at 1 p.m. at the Obion County bus garage in Troy, followed by basket packing beginning at 1 p.m. Dec. 23 at the bus garage. Delivery route information for Dec. 24 will be available at the packing.
For more information, call the Chimes office at 885-2098 or email chimesforcharity@yahoo.com.
Chimes will also benefit tonight from the organization’s designated night at the annual Santa’s Village at the University of Tennessee at Martin’s ag pavilion. Volunteers may work on Chimes’ behalf and the charity will receive non-perishable food items and toys collected as admission to the holiday event from 6-9 p.m.
Staff Reporter Chris Menees may be contacted by email at cmenees@ucmessenger.com.

Published in The Messenger 12.7.12