More than $280,000 was raised over the weekend for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during the annual events organized by the Poplar Bluff Heroes.
The group annual holds a Friday night banquet, followed by a Saturday archery shoot.
More than 1,000 tickets were sold for the Friday night banquet at the Black River Coliseum, which was sold out, said Miranda Fickert, team captain.
“I think what I find most humbling is that our community and those that surround us are so generous. They give their money, their items, their services and their time to help this event be the most successful I’ve ever seen in this small town,” said Fickert, who describes the banquet as “over 1,000 of your closest friends.”
The event is casual and this year, featured dinner by Tasteful Creations, drinks by Wil Fischer and Kohlfeld Distributing, a nacho and margarita bar by Las Margaritas and Maya’s and specialty drinks by Haffy’s.
There were over 250 silent auction and raffle items. Some of those items included a 40-foot Silverline gooseneck trailer, a 17-foot custom wrapped canoe, an off-road micro camper trailer, puppies, hunts and vacations. Attendees had the opportunity to take part in over 20 raffles, the biggest of those being for a side-by-side.
Of the 103 available tables on the Coliseum floor for Friday’s event, 89 were reserved, according to Fickert.
“I think this speaks volumes about how much people enjoy attending the event. Year after year, they come and support this amazing cause. In fact, I already have six tables reserved for the 2023 event,” said Fickert.
The Poplar Bluff Heroes team started raising money for St. Jude in 2009 with the archery shoot and added the banquet seven years ago.
“Last year, our Heroes Team was invited to join St. Jude’s first ever Quarter Million Dollar Club. We were one of five in the nation to hit that quarter-million-dollar mark and the number one community fundraising team in the nation,” Fickert explained.
And their work for the year isn’t done yet.
“We’ll be looking to raise that total even further with the Second Annual St. Jude Designer Handbag Bingo event coming up in November,” Fickert said.
Designer Handbag Bingo will be held at the Black River Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 11. This event will feature craft and boutique vendors, followed by bingo for designer handbags like Louis Vuitton, Kate Spade, Dooney & Burke, Michael Kors and more.
Dinner and drinks will be included in the ticket price. For more information, visit the Poplar Bluff Heroes Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/StJudeArcheryShoot.