By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–The Helping Hand Auction has been raising thousands of dollars this year for some 80 non-profit organizations, despite changes in the format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Helping Hand President Stacy Hayes said $5,800 was raised in the virtual auction last Friday on www.bidlastandwin.com. A similar amount was raised in the auction the previous Friday.
An additional $50,000 was donated from various individuals and organizations throughout the week and a generous and anonymous donor has committed $50,000 in a match campaign until the end of the auction on February 5th. Paris BPU and TVA have also pledged matching funds, with BPU matching the first $20,000 donated.
Unique donations also have been received this year:
–Coffee With Cherry Jones is being auctioned off to a lucky winner. A Paris Native, Jones is a two-time winner of the Tony Best Actress award and has won two Emmy Awards. She will be home this year and the winning bidder will go to coffee with Jones and learn all about Broadway, movies and more.
–A gift certificate also has been donated for a guided hike with “The Masked Naturalist”, otherwise known as Joan Howe of the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge in Springville. Highest bidder will win a socially-distance guided hike offered to a single person, family or group. It also includes laminated maps of local hiking trails.