Richmond Centre obviously will be a hot spot for holiday shopping, but this weekend, it also will be a place of holiday giving.
The Holiday Market, which is a Madison County Backpack Club/Wingspan fundraiser, will be located at Richmond Center Friday through Sunday inside two vacant store lots, one being next to DEB and the other next to Maurice’s.
The market’s hours will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The Wingspan program, better known as the Madison Backpack Club, was created last year as a service of Kirksville Baptist Church where Tara Mitchell, Wingspan president, is a member.
God’s Outreach Food Bank in Richmond also has helped with the initiative that was created to provide a weekend’s worth of food to local school children in need.
However, the cost of the project is now almost 10 times more than it was at the beginning, according to Tara Mitchell, president of Wingspan/Madison County Backpack Club.
“It was about $120 a month (when the Backpack Club/Wingspan started),” Mitchell said. “Now, it’s over $1,000 per month. We have received lots of donations, but the amount of children we are feeding has also increased. People are losing jobs and are in a tougher financial bind now.”
A free raffle ticket will be given to anyone who brings a donation for the Backpack Club/Wingspan. There is a list of acceptable food items for the backpacks, but other non-perishable items that are appropriate for a child’s lunch also can be donated, Mitchell said.
The list includes: breakfast pastries (i.e. Pop Tarts), fruit cups, oatmeal packets, cheese crackers, microwavable macaroni and cheese, single-serving cereal boxes, soups, raisins, granola bars, pudding, single-packs of potato chips, fruit snacks and tuna.
All food items donated will be made into a Christmas tree that will be on display at the vacant store lot next to Maurice’s clothing store.
Refreshments also will be on sale at both locations, with 100 percent of donations going to the Backpack Club/Wingspan.
Wingspan/Backpack Club volunteer Jenny Spurlock said Richmond Centre representatives were very receptive to the idea of using the two vacant locations to host the Holiday Market.
“They have been wonderful,” Spurlock said. “They even mentioned doing this again in the spring.”
The Holiday Market has 12 local business sponsors that are offering items for the raffle, but there is room for about eight more sponsors, Spurlock said.
“For our first time doing something like this, I think we’ve had a good turnout (of vendor sponsors) and hope to grow in the future,” she said.
“The reason we do what we do is for the children,” Spurlock said. “There are children in the Madison County school system who do not eat on the weekends. Everything we do is for them. It’s worth it when one little child comes back and says that they enjoyed their backpack. When one child comes back with that smile on their face, then it’s worth it.”
Mitchell also said the Kirksville Clothing Bank remains in operation for anyone in need, and is open on the third Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the community center on Kirksville Road.
Clothing is available for men, women, children, toddlers and babies, however, donations also are being accepted.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.
Local News
‘Holiday Market’ for giving, not taking
Fundraiser event features raffle prizes
- Local News
-
-
Friday at library : Lecturer to portray founder of Berea
John G. Fee, abolitionist and founder of both Berea and Berea College, will be portrayed Friday night by performer Obadiah Ewing-Roush as part of Kentucky Humanities Council Chautauqua performance series at the Madison County Public Library. There is no charge to attend the 7 p.m. event.
As the son of a slave-holding father, Fee witnessed firsthand the benefits of having slaves and the profits that could be made from their labor. When he graduated from college and enrolled in Lane Theological Seminary, he began to understand the inherent wrong and destructiveness of slavery. -
Berea woman dies Tuesday in Laurel County crash
A Berea woman, Tommie Johnson, 60, died Tuesday evening in a Laurel County crash, according to the the Laurel Sheriff’s Office.
The accident took place about 7 p.m. at the junction of Maple Grove Road and KY 363 south of London, as Johnson was attempting to turn onto the state highway.
Laurel County Chief Deputy Eddy Sizemore said Johnson’s Chevrolet Cavalier pulled out in front of a Dodge Durango driven by Charles Joseph, 19, that was traveling south on KY 363.
After being extricated from her vehicle, Johnson was transported to St. Joseph-London hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Joseph also was transported to the hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries, according to the accident report. -
Finally February
Ian Rosser, an Eastern Kentucky University student from Lexington, clears snow from his car parked on campus Wednesday
morning after about an inch of snow fell in Richmond. Temperatures are forcast to be in the upper 40s today. Kentucky has seen a lot of rain in the past few months, as was predicted by the Farmer's Almanac, but very little snow has fallen. -
Volunteers needed for equine therapy
The Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center will be hosting two, one-day volunteer training workshops for those interested in helping others with special needs.
The volunteer orientation days will be Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but only one day of training is required, according to Mark Martin who co-owns Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center (AFTEC) with his wife Cheryl.
The all-volunteer organization, which is based in Jackson County, uses horses to help humans deal with physical and emotional challenges. -
Man accused of holding samurai sword to girlfriend’s throat
A Madison grand jury will hear the case of a man accused of threatening to cut his girlfriend’s head off, and attacking her father with a samurai sword.
Russell M. Masters, 42, of Richmond, is charged with two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, which is a Class D felony, and fourth-degree assault (domestic violence with minor injury) and resisting arrest, which both are Class A misdemeanors. Masters could receive one to five years in prison on each wanton endangerment charge, and the misdemeanors both carry a maximum sentence of one year in jail. -
Arrest made in connection with stolen jewelry, computer
Richmond police have made an arrest in connection with property stolen from two homes last fall.
A woman reported to police Monday that she had discovered several items that were missing from her home on South Killarney Drive and her grandmother’s home on Raintree Drive, according to Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock. The items were a set of gold hoop earrings, a white Sony Vaio laptop, a yellow gold heart pendant, a gold tennis bracelet and a ladies’ wedding band with a diamond setting.
The complainant said the belongings had gone missing sometime between August and October. -
US 25 business owners scared of five-lane plan
Voices of Berea business owners upset about upcoming construction on US 25 will be taken to the state level, according to city administrator Randy Stone.
Several people operating businesses along a section of US 25 gave comments Tuesday to the Berea City Council, asking them reconsider plans to widen the road to five lanes.
The design is a five-lane highway with a center turn lane and a 10-foot shared use path on one side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the other side. -
Grand jury to hear copper theft case
The attorney for a man accused of stealing copper from a handful of electric poles questioned his identification as the same person who took copper from 32 poles two days earlier.
Public defender Meena Mohanty questioned Richmond police officer Nicholas Duvall during a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Madison District Court. Her client, Jeffrey W. Nester, 46, of Fourth Street, was arrested in connection with a Jan. 23 copper theft. He is charged with second-degree criminal mischief, theft by unlawful taking, possession of burglary tools and failure to notify address change to the Department of Transportation. These charges are all misdemeanors that, at most, carry a sentence of one year in prison. -
Judge weighs constitutionality of legislative redistricting
Kentucky’s deadline for filing to run for legislative seats was in flux on Monday because a judge did not immediately rule on a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of newly redrawn district boundaries.
Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said he expects to enter a ruling in the case by mid-week.
-
Couple recovering from injuries suffered in weekend house fire
A couple was hospitalized after their home was set ablaze Sunday by a spark from a cigar, according to a county fire official.
County Fire Chief Jim Cox said the city and county fire departments were called to the home at 111 Concord Road in the early afternoon. Waco Volunteer Fire Department and the Richmond Fire Department also responded.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
