It's moments like this that remind me of the POWER behind a team of people, with a specific goal....that go to work...backs against the walls or not.
It is moments like this that remind me of WHY I'm SO passionate about the auction method of marketing...
When I sent a message to my friend Danielle in Rockport...I can tell you that the last thing I thought that conversation was going to turn into was something like this: "Hey! We've decided to continue with our Show Fund Fundraiser. We have a new venue, but we need help organizing our auction. Any help you can give us would be great."
No joke...I had to sit there a minute to try and wrap my head around everything. I knew she had lost her home. I knew they were without water and electricity and ANY sense of normalcy. I also knew her & if she had her people behind her to press forward, it was go-time.
I checked in with my crew. I checked in with my family. I checked in about the board meeting I planned on attending both Saturday and Sunday & worked it out. We are headed to Rockport THIS Friday to Prepare for THIS Saturday.
What this Livestock Booster Club decided to proceed with is no small undertaking, but it is one heck of an effort to begin THEIR "rebuild." Rebuilding their lives back to reality - post hurricane. Life goes on, no matter what.
The Aransas County 4H Club has approximately 30 members. Some of those kiddos lost their projects & some did not. Based on my last conversation 100% of the members were displaced or suffered major damage to their homes. These kids had to come together, once the dust settled, to look for their projects, care for their projects, & help each other. When I asked my friend Krystal, who is also helping re-organize this event how the group seems to be holding up she referred to them as "a compound." They are just all coming together and working together.
Rockport is best known for recreation & tourism & not so much agriculture. That simple fact already limits community support, especially in comparison to ag communities. This year they also have to contend with the hurricane and the aftermath that ensued. I talked to several of the parents & they are definitely in an overwhelming situation, but the general consensus is: "We have to get them in that show ring in January." This is important to them and we have to do what we can.
Many of us have heard about the out pour of donations that have come into the coastal areas. For this group one of their biggest needs, is a place to store it. They've been blessed with people bringing grain and hay and other needed supplies. Now they need a place to store it. Anyone out there with contact for metal storage containers - they, amongst probably several others, could use them. They are also rebuilding and stabilizing livestock pens. There is still a need for pens and fencing supplies,
What these parents and members of the Livestock Booster Club of Aransas County are calling for now, is not donations for feed or hay or supplies, but for HELP breathing life back into this program in the face of an overwhelming catastrophe. This is the Booster Club's biggest fundraiser, raising money to directly support the 4H Clubs of Aransas County and purchase the 4Hers show projects. A handful of their auction items they still have, but most were washed away OR the business don't exist anymore.
They are accepting approximately 30 donations for live auction items & another 20 or so for their silent auction, that will help generate funds from their closest supporters. If you are someone out there that is a creator & makes deer stands, hunting blinds, bbq pits, fire pits, picnic tables, beanbag boards or anything of the like - those items will fit this crowd. If you are a business that wishes to contribute please consider donating an item or buying at the auction. If you can not be present, contact us or the information below & we would be happy to handle absentee bidding.
I have heard of so many people wanting to know how they can still help those affected. HELP THEM REBUILD. Help them see how to come together and rally. Help them to show these kids HOW life goes on after a natural disaster. SHOW THEM we care about MORE than their immediate needs. We care about the hard work they've put in. We care about how this will effect their futures. We care about the lessons that will be taken away from this.
As a crew, all of us at Buck Up Auctions want these people to have fun. We want to remind them, that they can smile....that they can competitively bid against each other for the sole purpose of helping the kids. That they have each other. They have a community bigger than the coastal bend that values all they stand for.
I pull this all back to when a seed was planted in me - regarding the power of community and the power of an auction. It's when my family felt as if we were facing our own catastrophe. It was when my Dad had went into a diabetic coma, and as he came out of it, the doctors told us his liver was failing and soon after - learning he would need a liver transplant to live. All I remember is in that family meeting there was no sign of defeat. We weren't sure how to go about it, but we organized a fundraiser that developed into two more - because of THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY regarding auction donations and bidders, meal and dance ticket sales, silent auction items. Those auctions carried those events & contributed a TREMENDOUS deal to our goal - which was getting the funds for my Dad to get a liver. WE did it. My family could have NEVER accomplished it on our own & right now the Livestock Booster Club of Aransas County can't either.
What happened to me through that experience will stay with me for the rest of my life. When people band together they LITERALLY breathe life back into others. There is no question, as these people look back in 6 months, a year, 5 years they will become OVERWHELMED with emotion not knowing how they did it. If you can & if you choose to, please CONSIDER being a part of their HOW. Everyone is aware that A LOT of people are hurting, but if you feel moved to help these 30 kids that have NEVER seen anything happen, like what happened to their community....that have put their heads down and cared for their projects...that have spent time helping each other - just to overcome the devastation....if you want to help these parents help their kids....BUCK UP & do it!
Talk to us about a buyers group. Talk to us about donating an item. Talk to us about absentee bidding. Talk to us about how to buy tickets! The Northshore Country Club in Portland has donated their facility, since the the original location was damaged by the hurricane. The venue is bigger and has room for an additional 200 people. Get away from the chaos & come enjoy a fajita dinner & dancing and music by Tom Saenz.
$50 per ticket. $100 per couple. For tickets you can contact Becky Mays at 361.205.5131. You can also email: lbcoac@gmail.com and follow for updates at Livestock Booster Club of Aransas County.
My crew and I will be leaving Carmine Friday afternoon. If we need to take any items or donations with us we can. Email me at heather@buckupauctions.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment