An event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff to raise money and household items for Missouri flood victims in Doniphan, Ellington, Poplar Bluff and Van Buren.
Sponsored by First Choice Insurance and The Bank of Missouri, the fundraiser will offer silent and live auctions, live music and children's activities.
Food, drinks and T-shirts also will be sold as part of the effort. Shirts with the slogan "We will rise, Missouri FLOOD RELIEF 2017" will cost $10.
Organizers also hope to fill a truck with nonperishable items, such as canned food, new bed linens, new bath towels and cleaning supplies.
Historic flooding has impacted so many area communities, which thrive as one unit, organizers wanted to find a way to help, said Matthew Phillips of First Choice Insurance.
The goal is to make this the largest organized effort to help multiple communities and raise at least $10,000, Phillips said.
The funds would be split between Poplar Bluff's Bread Shed, Ellington's Whole Kids Outreach and the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency.
More than 40 businesses are now involved in the effort, Phillips said.
"We are lucky to live in one of the most loving, caring and giving communities in the world," he said. "It has been a humbling experience to see the amount of support for those that are so greatly affected by this devastation."
The event is already on track to meet its initial fundraising goal, Phillips said, and hopes to see even more raised Saturday.
One item will be auctioned off live every 30 minutes, starting at 11:30 a.m. with Cardinal baseball tickets, a recliner at noon, and more Cardinal baseball tickets at 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. An Echo GT 225 Trimmer will be auctioned at 1 p.m.
More than 30 items have also been donated for a silent auction, including jewelry and gift certificates.
Raffles will be held for two guns, a Ruger American 9-mm pistol and Ruger American Hunting rifle, but only 52 chances will be sold, on a first come, first served basis.
Anna Catherine Dehart and Ryan Hinkle, two rising country music stars are coming home from Nashville to perform at the event, Phillips said. They will be joined by The Call, a contemporary worship band.
Debit and credit cards will be accepted during the event.
The following sponsors are involved in the event:
Platinum Sponsors:
First Choice Insurance, The Bank of Missouri, Stand Still, First Baptist Church, Briggs & Stratton
Gold Sponsors:
Hillcrest Animal Hospital, Hefner Furniture, Fox Radio Network, J.W. Walker & Sons Recycling, River Radio, Debbie Rhea, Steve & Nikki Phillips
Silver Sponsors:
Butler County EMS, Flooring Direct LLC, Lemonade House Grille, Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce, Marble Slab Creamery, Shooters Shack, Buffalo Wild Wings, Donut House, Dale Law Office, an anonymous donor, Warrior Strength and Power, Whitworth Jewelers, Sam Sheppard & Son LLC, Stinson Press, Eagle Ridge Christian School, Aire Solutions Heating and Air Cooling, DeMANS Security and Protection, Lays Potato Chips
Bronze Sponsors:
Ozark Federal Credit Union, Second Baptist Church, Cypress Creek Motorsports, Haley Case, C & F Salvage, Hopper Service, Spencer Ready Mix
Other Sponsors:
Larry Hillis Dodge, Mossy Oak Properties, La Boutique, Deep Freeze, Sweet Blessings Bakery, Grand March, Pizza Inn, Ronnie Webb Ministries, Bra's That Fit, Kingdom Life Ministries, Shanda Felts, Glenda Seawright, Amy Hanks, Jessica Yeley, Petsway, Ice 2 Go, Divine Family Eye Care, Jeanie Kiefer