A fundraiser for the family of Ray Semones, the local man tragically killed in a hunting accident Jan. 1, raised over $6,100 on January 26 at Gladesboro Elementary School.
Gladesboro School set up the fundraiser to help the family, as Semones’ son attended the school last year. An estimated 300 people attended the event, which was such a success that enough money was raised to pay for Semones’ funeral.
“We raised over $6,100 and we still have a few donations coming in. We had a lot of churches give us donations and also some businesses,” said Linda King, Principal of Gladesboro Elementary School. “We just want to thank everyone who helped with the Semones benefit. It was a huge success and the family was so grateful. Our prayer for the event was to raise enough money to pay for the entire funeral, and the funeral bill is now paid in full. The power of prayer was working to make this a great event.”
Aside from a spaghetti dinner, a cake auction was also held during the benefit. People were so generous, one cake ended up bringing in $250 by itself.
“It sold for $100 and the person that bought it turned around and gave it back to us, then it sold again for $100. Then that person turned around and gave it back to us, then it sold for $50,” King said. “One cake raised $250. It was just a wonderful community event. It gives you a wonderful feeling to help others and it was a true blessing. Our entire community came out even though we had inclement weather. It was fantastic.”
Churches that helped make the event happen included: Crooked Oak Missionary Baptist Church, Gospel Chapel Church, Stone Mountain Baptist Church, Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Green Mountain Baptist Church, Closer Home Church, Skyview Baptist Church, Rome Baptist Church, Hillsville Presbyterian Church, Fancy Gap United Methodist Circuit, Hillsville Pentecostal Holiness Church, Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Hillsville Presbyterian Church, Fancy Gap United Methodist Church, Hillsville Pentecostal Holiness Church and Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints.
Businesses that helped with the benefit were: Super Dollar Discount Foods, McDonald’s Restaurant, Wendy’s Restaurant, Slaughter’s Supermarket, Food Lion, Virginia Produce Company, Snow’s Insurance Agency, Hillcrest Flowers, Gardner’s Pawn Shop, as well as Boy Scout Troop #571 (Leader Jessie Hiatt; Scouts Aiden Lacy & Garrett Bowman), Woodlawn Middle School, Gladesboro Elementary School, Gladesboro E. PTSO, CCPS Central Office and many, many individuals.
“Of course none of us did this to gain recognition or credit,” King said. “We saw a need and let our hearts lead us to respond. The Lord deserves all the credit.”
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