Paris, Tenn.–Due to the recent spike in COVID cases, the Helping Hand Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to move to a radio-only auction for the month of January. The Helping Hand Radio Auction will run from this Monday, January 10 through March 2 at the Paris Convention Center.
Helping Hand Board President John Berryman announced this morning there will be no in person bidding or spectators during the month of January. Helping Hand had planned to return to a live in-person and radio auction in 2022.
“ALL of January’s auction activity will be broadcast on the radio and bids will only be accepted by telephone. We will post as many photos and descriptions of the auction items as possible to our Henry County Helping Hand Facebook page. The Helping Hand Board of Directors consulted with local doctors and medical professionals before taking this action to protect the well-being of our friends, neighbors and volunteers. It is our most sincere hope that we will be able to go back to our traditional auction format for February and March,” Berryman said.
Volunteers
Volunteers are needed for this year’s Helping Hand Radio Auction, he said. “We need you! If you have the time and ability and can follow the recommended COVID protocols we have been given, then please volunteer with us! Many of our current volunteers are retirees and must continue to be diligent in protecting their health. For this reason, the Board of Directors has decided that masks will be required for all volunteers until further notice.”
If you would like to volunteer, please contact Oneida Wagoner at 731-333-6270, or Susan Hayes at 731-431-8640.
Donations
Due to the pandemic, some people may be hesitant to purchase food items prepared by individuals they do not know. For this reason, the board members are asking you to consider alternative donations. Hand-made items and gift certificates for goods and services from local businesses or for home-made food items to be picked up at a later date are great ideas.
Monetary donations are best and are always welcome. If you have ever stayed up late cooking or baking and thought to yourself, “I wish I had just donated money instead of committing to donating food”, now is your chance! You may drop off your monetary donation at the Helping Hand office at the Paris Convention Center or any Commercial Bank location.
Please tell them you’re donating to Helping Hand and the bank will make sure the money is properly accounted. We also plan to establish a Venmo account and will renew our GoFundMe account accessible via Facebook or the Web. Additional details to follow.
Berryman noted, “We have approximately 85 local non profit groups and charitable organizations that are counting on us to provide them with necessary operational funds.”
Drop Off and Pick Up of Auction Items
Auction donations are to be dropped off at the canopied door of the Paris Convention Center between 7 am and 9 am during the auction. In an effort to limit exposure to each other and the auction items, no one other than volunteers will be allowed inside the convention center at this time.
Pick-ups will happen from the time of the sale of the first auction item of the day until 30 minutes after the daily auction ends.
Berryman said, “While we are still perfecting the pick-up process, we are considering a method similar to the way some of our local restaurants have conducted their carry out orders. We are planning to have numbered parking spaces where winning bidders can park and call or text to notify us that they are ready for pick up. We will finalize this process during the first days of the radio auction.”
“We respectfully ask for your patience and understanding while these necessary changes are made to the 2022 format. Thank you for your continued support and please bid high, bid often and donate,” he said.