Statesboro’s youth are revitalizing the local scene with their passion for service and heart for charity.
Southeast Bulloch Junior, Audrey Thomas, is among the group of young leaders at its forefront.
On May 20th, Audrey Thomas will hold a benefit concert at the Averitt Arts Center to help purchase Amtryke adaptive bikes for local children with special needs. The concert will begin at 7:30pm and will be headlined by “The Hushpuppies Band.” All proceeds from the event will go towards purchasing Amtrykes, which will change the lives of several local families.
Audrey first learned of Amtryke adaptive bikes while attending a Statesboro AMBUCS meeting at The Therapy SPOT in Fall of 2022. (AMBUCS makes adaptive tricycles for children and adults with motor impairments). She attended the meeting alongside her mother, Jodi Thomas, who is a Speech Therapist.
Audrey became incredibly moved after hearing the stories of several local children needing Amtryke bikes. So much so, that afterwards she hatched the idea to put on a benefit concert to raise money for resident families in need of Amtryke bikes.
Amtryke bikes can be very costly. So, having the full community involvement and support in securing them is key.
Audrey met with Rachel Elkins at the Averitt Center to help secure the venue space and quickly found local sponsors to help with the concert costs. She went on to get her dad, Matt Thomas (who is a member of The Hushpuppies Band), to secure The Hushpuppies for entertainment. Her next step was to solicit the help of her sister, Sara Thomas, in creating the promotional flyers for social media and for around town distribution.
Due to Audrey’s consistent efforts, the result has culminated in a successfully planned benefit concert which is set to be had at the Averitt Center on May 20th at 7:30pm. Through Audrey’s sheer determination and organized planning, she is set to help change the lives of several children with mobility challenges.
“I love to volunteer, and I have always had a heart for special needs children," Audrey said. "I initially had the idea to put on a benefit concert because I felt that a concert would bring in tons of community support for helping the local special needs children. It means so much to me that I can help touch the lives of the special needs children within our community.”
In addition to her general studies, Audrey is also a Southeast Bulloch Work-Based Learning Student. She currently works in Rachel Murray’s Special Needs class at Sallie Zetterower Elementary School. In her extra-curricular time, she enjoys participating in pageants and currently holds the titles “Miss Southeast Bulloch High School” & “Teen Miss Brooklet Peanut Festival.” Furthermore, Audrey works part-time at Frills by Scott, a local formal wear store in Statesboro, GA.
To purchase benefit concert tickets, CLICK HERE.
Tickets will also be sold on the day of the concert. General charitable donations will be accepted, whether one is able to attend the concert or not.
Audrey would like to thank the contributing sponsors to the benefit concert.
These sponsors include:
Dolan’s Bar-B-Q
East Georgia Regional Medical Center
Georgia Technologies
James & Veronica Cowart
King Rocker and Matthew Rocker from Rocker Supply Hardware
Frills by Scott
The Therapy SPOT of Statesboro
Ayers Law Office
Thompson Farm in Statesboro
Darlene Anthony State Farm
Chick-Fil-A of Statesboro (for giveaway coupons)
DPR Architecture
2 Fish Apparel
Audrey would finally like to thank her parents and sister Sara for their continued support in her heartfelt endeavor. Audrey expresses that she could not have done this without their contributions, especially without the support of The Hushpuppies Band.
For more information about the AMBUCS organization, please visit their website at ambucs.org, or browse their corresponding Facebook page at Statesboro AMBUCS.
For more inquiries about the benefit concert, please contact Jodi Thomas at 706-551-1318.
For more local Amtryke success stories, CLICK HERE.
