It’s hard to believe that we just flipped the calendar to August 2020. August is always a very busy month for us at the Terrell Chamber of Commerce. A month where we begin to eagerly promote and hastily prepare for our annual Civic Auction, which takes place each October. The Civic Auction is the primary fundraiser for the Chamber of Commerce and monies raised go toward scholarships, community beautification, community events such as the Fourth of July fireworks display, and more.
On one hand, things are no different than any other August in that our staff and volunteers are beginning the process of soliciting donations for the auction. On another hand, we are preparing for a potentially very different type of auction experience because if mass gatherings orders remain as they are today, we will not be able to have our typical in-person auction at the Cowboy Collections Arena. We are coming up with alternative plans in the event we cannot proceed as normal.
Just as many other non-profits and businesses have had to do in 2020, we are having to adjust. We’re coming up with new and creative ways to raise money. Instead of one large event in a single evening, it could look more like a series of various virtual or online events.
For instance, we just launched a Purse Raffle this week. A $40 raffle ticket gets you one entry into drawings for 22 designer purses. The final drawing will be for a Louis Vuitton (full disclosure…I’m not even sure what that is or why it’s significant, but the ladies at the office tell me it is!). You can buy as many $40 raffle tickets as you’d like, and you can also add on additional chances to win the coveted Louis Vuitton handbag for $10 per chance. You’re not limited on the number of tickets you can purchase. However, you must purchase a $40 ticket to be eligible to purchase additional $10 Louis Vuitton chances. The drawing will happen during a Facebook Live event on September 12.
There’s no question we’ll have to work hard coming up with multiple ways to match the success of our typical auction if we’re unable to hold it, but our team, sponsors and volunteers are up for the challenge! This is an event that many of us look forward to each year and we remain hopeful that we’ll get to be in person. We are very thankful for those who remain dedicated to supporting our community through various events and fundraisers like those we host at the Chamber, regardless of the format.
As always, keep an eye on our website and Facebook page for details on the various fundraising events and activities.