Third Annual Nemaha County Gives Back Raised Over $17,200

Written by Nemaha County Herald

The Nemaha County Gives Back festival was held Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5 and 6th and it was a huge success! There were over 400 people who attended during the two-day event.

Bobette Guenther is excited to report that the event, with the inclusion of the business/individual donations, free-will offering meal, and the Christmas tree/wreath/wall hanging auction we raised $17,212 and some donations are still coming in. The money will be used to help provide food baskets, toys, gifts, and clothing for the SENCA clients, SENDS clients, the elderly, disabled and challenged in Nemaha County, according to Guenther. “Nemaha County Gives Back will also be recognizing a challenge in our community by offering a heartfelt hand to the Armstrong Cabinets employees and their families. With all of the proceeds from the festival, we, as a community, will be reaching out to over 500 families/individuals during this holiday season. At the holiday season, bringing people together for fellowship, food, and entertainment for a great cause is what community is all about,” she said.A free-will offering meal was served which included chili, chicken noodle, and potato soups, relishes, desserts and drinks.There were three local entertainment groups which performed each night. On Saturday night, the performers were Spirit Wave from the United Methodist Church in Auburn, St. Joseph Catholic Church Choir and Sum Guise. On Sunday night, the entertainers were Brent Comstock, Cross+ Walk (a quartet from Johnson), and The Good Intentions Group. All of the local performers provided excellent entertainment. The crowd really enjoyed the festival-like atmosphere. A Christmas tree and wreath auction was held both nights. The trees were all decorated by local civic organizations (Auburn Chamber Ambassadors, Auburn Civic Women’s Club, Auburn High School FBLA, Auburn Optimists, Auburn Rotary, Beta Sigma Phi, Christian Church Youth Group, Community Builders, Ray & The Sunshine Girls and SENCA employees). Individuals/groups decorated the wreaths. Wreath decorators were AHS Cheerleaders, Carin Gerdes, Girl Scout Troop #263, Laura Lea Fossenbarger, Paint It Priceless, and the United Methodist Youth Group. Two hand-quilted wall hangings were also donated for auction – one was made by Linda Hug/Ranae Hug and the other one was donated from the Nemaha County Courthouse employees.“It was amazing to see all the creativity that developed in the decorating of the trees, wreaths, and wall hangings. Eight of the Christmas trees and four Christmas wreaths were donated back to needy families,” Guenther said.Marv and Mark Caspers served as auctioneers on Saturday night, and Mark Caspers conducted the auction Sunday night.

Buyers of the trees were:

• Auburn Chamber Ambassadors tree – Dennis Wittmann

• Auburn Civic Woman’s Club tree – Bob and Carol Hemmingsen

• Auburn High School FBLA tree – Pete Eggers

• Auburn Optimist tree – Bob and Carol Hemmingsen

• Auburn Rotary Club tree – Marty Fattig

• Beta Sigma Phi tree – Sherry Black

• Christian Church Youth Group tree – Neil Kerr

• Community Builders tree – Dr. Darren Wright

• Ray & The Sunshine Girls tree – John & Stacy Taylor

• SENCA Employees tree – Sherry Black

Buyers of the wreaths were:

• AHS Cheerleaders wreath – Monty Lovelace

• Carin Gerdes wreath – James & Deanne Gerking

• Girl Scout Troop #263 wreath – John & Stacy Taylor

• Laura Lea Fossenbarger wreath – Dan Hanson

• Paint It Priceless wreath – Dr. Darren Wright

• United Methodist Youth Group wreath – Nancy Fuller

Buyers of the Christmas and patriotic wall hangings:

• Linda Hug/Ranae Hug Christmas wall hanging – John and Stacy Taylor

• Nemaha County Courthouse Employees Patriotic wall hanging – Vernon and Carin Gerdes

Robert Lowrey and Bobette Guenther were the chairpersons for the event. An important portion of the event was to recognize the military men and women who serve our country and are away from family at Christmas time. During the past month, pictures and brief information were collected from family members. There were 16 military men and women who were recognized and many of their family members were among those in attendance one of the evenings. A special bulletin board was created with pictures and information about the individual and was on display during the event. Mandy Hall Photography made a DVD that was played during the event with all the military pictures and information on it as well. Now, the bulletin board will travel to different businesses during the holiday season and will be on display at the following businesses:

Dec. 7 through 15: Nemaha County Hospital

Dec. 15 to Jan. 4th: Glenn’s Corner Market

Jan. 4th to Jan. 10: Carson National Bank

If your business would like to display the military board as we support our troops, please contact Bobette at 274-8919.Dale Thomas closed the programs both Saturday and Sunday nights by singing “God Bless the USA” and then everyone sang “Silent Night” in recognition of all our military people.

An important portion of Nemaha County Gives Back Winter Festival is to recognize the military men and women who serve our country and are away from family at Christmas time. During November, pictures and brief information were collected from area family members. There were 16 military men and women who were recognized. A special bulletin board (pictured above) was created with pictures and information about the individual and was on display during the two-day event. Mandy Hall Photography made a DVD that was played during the event with all the military pictures and information on it as well. Now, the bulletin board will travel to different businesses during the holiday season and will be on display at the following businesses: Dec. 7 through 15-Nemaha County Hospital, Dec. 15 to Jan. 4-Glenn’s Corner Market and Jan. 4th to Jan. 10-Carson National Bank.