Multi-church fundraiser aims for disaster relief
Sharon Moravits started organizing a multi-church fundraiser to help survivors of Hurricane Harvey. But even as she was getting started, another hurricane, Irma, tore through Florida. Then came Maria.
“Each time we took a step forward there was another disaster,” she remembered, but she was determined to help.
“I’ve read so many things about what helps and what doesn’t. We learned don’t send clothes,” she said. What’s needed is money. But Moravits knows that not everyone can afford to write a check, no matter how much they want to help.
“People have things laying around the house that can be converted into money,” she said, so the idea of a giant rummage sale was born. Her first stop was her church, St. Theodore Episcopal. Then she started looking for more churches to sign on and a place to hold the sale.
The Benton County Quail Barn became her place. The conservation organization, Benton County Quail, agreed to let them use the barn for free. They will have access the week before the sale so donors can drop off their items.
The barn is located between Centerton and Hiwasse, about 5.4 miles west of the intersection of Walton Boulevard and Arkansas Highway 72. Coming from Hiwasse, it is 2.5 miles miles south of the Arkansas Highway 72 interchange with Arkansas Highway 549.
Moravits has a few volunteers that will pick up rummage sale items.
She’s looking for both volunteers and donations. She had hoped to involve more churches but was disappointed to discover there isn’t an active organization for Bella Vista churches, so it was difficult to contact all of them. She may work on that issue next.
Proceeds from the rummage sale will go to the Episcopal Relief and Development fund, earmarked for hurricane relief. It’s difficult to know which organizations will use the money wisely, but she has confidence in ERD. It’ll go exactly where it’s needed most, she promised.
For more information or to volunteer, call Moravits at 417-434-6943 or call St. Theodore Episcopal at 855-2715.