Share-a-Seat campaign taking off

The Share-A-Seat campaign is starting to take off, with donations rising above the $10,000 mark this week. "It's exciting," said Missy Nelson, who is spearheading the campaign to purchase 534 balcony seats for the McCook Memorial Auditorium. "We have received great support from families, businesses, clubs and churches. The community sees the need and they are responding."

After a slow start, the drive took off last month when the Lynn and Karen Salyer family donated $1,360. The gift was to acquire seats in honor of family members, and to pay tribute to Karen's mother, Mae, and late father, Sheriff Jim Short.

Encouraged by that show of support, the community has responded in the past few weeks with an outpouring of gifts, ranging all the way from $15 to $1,200.

"Many of the donors are giving seats in honor of family members and friends," Missy said. The seats cost $85 each, but some donors are contributing 10 to 12 times that amount to recognize their parents, children and other loved ones. The wide range of support has included sizable gifts from the Evangelical Free Church, Arvene Myers, the Prairie Statesmen Chorus, Jerry and Cheri Beckenhauer and Dr. John Batty. All contributors will be recognized with a permanent donor board, to be placed on the wall in the east end of the balcony at the auditorium.

Much more support is needed as the Share-A-Seat campaign drives towards its goal of $45,000. "We will need that amount to purchase 534 seats," Missy said.

To give an added boost to the bleacher seat campaign, additional fund-raising activities are planned in coming weeks. Next Wednesday, Oct. 12, a benefit buffet is planned at Pizza Hut between the hours of 5:50 and 8 p.m. Twenty five percent of the money from the buffet will be donated to the Share-A-Seat fund.

Then, on Saturday, Oct. 22, the McCook Memorial Auditorium will be the site of a garage sale, with proceeds going to the seat campaign. Lisa Kilpatrick is directing the garage sale, which will also feature coffee, rolls and luncheon items.

Those wishing to support the Share-A-Seat campaign may send donations to Share-A-Seat Fund, c/o McCook Community Foundation, P.O. Box 626, McCook, NE 69001. Contributors are asked to list the names of the persons they wish to be recognized for the seating gifts.