Larry and Pat Jones of Bulloch County were the lucky winners of the 2020 Kawasaki Mule that was given away by Ogeechee Area Hospice (OAH). OAH volunteers sold tickets for a chance to win the Mule as a fundraiser for the organization. Larry Jones purchased two $10 tickets. One was the lucky ticket which was drawn live on Grice Connect by Dr. Jean Bartels, OAH Board Chair and Tinker Lanier, OAH development officer.
The mule giveaway is normally drawn during the annual fundraising gala. Due to COVID they were not able to hold the gala this year. Instead, the drawing served as the kickoff to their annual chicken lunch fundraiser distribution.
During the live drawing Lanier thanked everyone in the community that brought tickets for a chance to win the mule. They were very pleased with the ticket sales this year and the overwhelming support of the community.
Lanier also thanked all of the businesses that helped OAH by selling tickets at the stores. These included Tillman, Brannen & Minick, Anderson General Store, McCook Pharmacy, Kawasaki of Statesboro, Howard Lumber and Medical Center Pharmacy. She thanked all of the Volunteers and Staff members that sold tickets. She was especially thankful for Belinda Nelson, Bill Taylor and Cindy Kirkhart who stepped up in extraordinary ways with this fundraiser.
Chicken Dinner Fundraiser
After the Mule giveaway, Lanier and volunteers began distributing plates in the community for OAH's annual Chicken Dinner Fundraiser. Lanier also thanked the community for also supporting this annual fundraiser. They sold over 2,000 plates.
A team of volunteers help make this annual event a huge success. Volunteers help organize the fundraiser, sell tickets, cook, plate, distribute and deliver plates. Todd Hutchison with the Bulloch County Sheriff's department coordinates cooking 2,500 chickens. Local groups set up 15 cookers and began cooking at 4 am. In addition, Ellis Wood and the Bulloch County Correctional Institute participated by cooking off site.
Ogeechee Area Hospice is the only not for profit hospice that serves our region with both in home and in facility end of life care. So many of us in Bulloch and surrounding counties have been positively impacted by the services of OAH, it makes it an easy organization to support in extraordinary ways.
