175 ladies bid on purses, desserts at benefit auction
Doing their part of help make athletic dreams come true for those with special needs, a group of some 175 happy women bid on a wide array of purses and desserts at this week’s “Old Bags” ladies luncheon in Yukon.
Some $7,000 was raised at Wednesday’s luncheon inside the Robertson Activity Center. The event - presented by Yukon Parks & Recreation, Mandi’s Ministries and Yukon Friends of the Park - featured silent auctions for about 250 purses and handbags, along with 25 taste-tempting desserts.
Funds raised will benefit Yukon’s new “Spirit League” for individuals with special needs. Sponsored by Yukon Parks & Recreation and Mandi’s Ministries, the league serves people with disabilities from age three20years to adult.
Money raised at Wednesday’s event will be used to help build a special needs ballfield at L.C. Taylor Park, Yukon Parks & Recreation’s Quincy Rinkle told the large crowd.
“This all goes to the Spirit League ... so bid friendly,” Rinkle advised luncheon attendees.
The Spirit League baseball season concluded this week after four weeks of Tuesday night competition at the Yukon Community Center field.
The games brought much joy to the special needs participants, volunteer “buddies” and family members.
“We saw a lot of smiling faces,” Rinkle said. “We appreciate all the support we’ve been given.”
The Spirit League’s indoor T-ball season will be Sept. 11 through Oct. 16 at the Jackie Cooper Gym, with games played Thursday nights for special needs athletes age 3 to 21 years. Registration is $30.
Sponsors of Wednesday’s purse auction and ladies luncheon were: Yukon Optimist Sports Club, James R. Brown Foundation, 5 G’s Construction, Integris Health, Tinker Federal Credit Union, John and Carla Alberts, Judy Miller, and Glenda Ochsner.
Rinkle thanked both the event sponsors are the 19 table sponsors who contributed to the success of this week’s fund-raiser.
“The ladies of the community were really nice to donate the purses for the auction,” Yukon Parks & Recreation director Jan Scott said. “Purses that were not sold were donated to Yukon20Sharing.”
This week’s fund-raiser featured a tasty luncheon with chicken salad croissants, ham and cream cheese croissants, pasta salad, egg salad, fruit salad, taco salad, pimento cheese and crackers, fresh fruit, chips and dips, and to-die-for chocolate dip strawberries.