But instead of sweets, members of UCARE — or Union County Aide and Relief Effort — turned their thoughts to Nintendos and televisions as their conversation continued during the organization’s lunchtime meeting.
UCARE will again put on its “12 Days of Christmas” raffle in 2010 and decided last week instead of offering just one type of prize for the entire 12 days it would offer two.
It will be 12 days of Wiis and TVs for the second UCARE Christmas raffle with six of each prize being raffled off on WBCU Radio on alternating days. Single raffle tickets will be sold for both items and each day’s winner will receive one or the other depending on which day their name is selected.
The dates of this year’s raffle will be announced at a later date but tickets will be on sale for the same price as in 2009 — people can get one ticket for $1 or six for $5. Those tickets also will go on sale immediately after UCARE members have them in their possession which could be as early as sometime in the next few weeks.
Before reaching the decision on this year’s raffle items, members discussed several other options including raffling off gas or grocery gift cards, digital book readers or iPads and a full Christmas dinner. The key to reaching their decision was getting something that still was “hot” for the holidays and wouldn’t need another component or system to use, i.e. the Wii Fit game discussed as a possible option at the organization’s meeting at the end of last month.
There was support for gas or grocery gift cards.
“Has anybody thought about doing a $100 grocery thing or $100 in gas,” asked Timken Sports Complex Director and UCARE member Kevin Shropshire. “One hundred dollars in gas can go a long way.”
Union County Recreation Department Director and fellow UCARE member Becky Cobb agreed and added some local grocery stores or gas stations might even offer the organization that helps needy Union County children and families during the holidays a discount in purchasing those gift cards.
While UCARE members decided to go with the game systems and flat panel TVs for this year’s raffle, they did entertain the thought of doing another fundraiser prior to the Christmas event that combines food with winning.
The suggestion was made to offer a grand prize — a 13th prize — during the group’s Christmas raffle. UCARE President Robbie Hines thought it might be feasible to get one full Christmas dinner from Midway BBQ and raffle that off to one lucky family as part of the holiday fundraiser.
Members liked the idea and decided instead of adding a 13th prize to the “12 Days of Christmas” raffle why not offer another raffle for Thanksgiving and give away seven full Thanksgiving dinners.
“Now you’re onto something,” said UCARE member Ronnie Wade.
UCARE members liked the idea so much they decided to go with it. A weeklong raffle will be held prior to Thanksgiving to give away those seven Thanksgiving dinners prepared by Midway BBQ — one each day.
The cost for those tickets and how the Thanksgiving raffle will work will be the same as the “12 Days of Christmas” raffle. The dates of that raffle also will be announced at a later time and, again, tickets will go on sale as soon as UCARE members have them in hand.
The “12 Days of Christmas” raffle was a success for UCARE last year. The organization raised several thousand dollars through the raffle; it turned around and used some of which to purchase gifts for children of families in need throughout Union County.
The organization — made up completely of Union County employees who contribute to its cause through payroll deductions — also holds other fundraisers during the year to help make the holidays a little brighter for families in Union County who need assistance.
One of those other fundraisers is a silent auction normally held at the Union County Courthouse in downtown Union.
UCARE members decided to have the silent auction again this year but it was suggested the group try to find an open building on Main Street in Union to start the auction there during the downtown holiday open house sponsored by the Union County Chamber of Commerce.
The organization also will be asking for donations for this year’s silent auction.
In years past, UCARE received items for the auction from Disney. With the news the corporation will be consolidating its Jonesville distribution operations with those it has in Memphis, UCARE has some items left over from last year but will need other items to make the auction a success in 2010.
Mailers are being sent to businesses and other entities to determine if any would like to donate items and Timken Sports Complex Assistant Director Paul Wilkes also said he would seek out donated items — hopefully some with autographs — from the University of South Carolina, Clemson University and the Union County High School.
The idea of beginning the silent auction the night of the downown holiday open house in a building on Main Street is still on the table. If a building is secured to have UCARE’s annual baked goods sale during the open house, it could be the silent auction will start there and then be moved to the courthouse where it has been held for the last several years.
Members made no decisions on that issue prior to adjourning their meeting last Thursday.
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