Community support ensures benefit's success
SMS Auto & Marine officials pose with local first responders recently after presenting them with a check for $4,407. The funds were raised at an Oktoberfest event, held to both thank them for their efforts and to raise money for things the local agencies might need.
(Photo by CAROLINE LOBSINGER)
Community support made its Oktoberfest benefit to raise money for the community's first responders a huge success, SMS Auto & Marine officials said.
"It was amazing to see the community come together in support of such a great cause," Hallie Duebendorfer said of the event recently.
The benefit raised $4,407.07, which was donated to local first responders "as a thank you for the hard work they put in, not just during the rough fire season and tough times for law enforcement, but all year," Duebendorfer said.
Local business which partnered with SMS Auto & Marine on the event include CO-OP Gas & Supply, which donated funds for the rentals needed for the event; Woods Meats, which offered a discount on all the smokies and bratwurst served; and Wingsong Farms, Tasty’s Eatery and Wine Bar, and Laughing Dog Brewing, which made sure beverages were available, Duebendorfer said.
In addition, business which donated raffle items included Sugar Tooth, Northwest Autobody, Bella Terra Boutique, Integrity Armory, Mac’s Custom Tie Downs, Interstate Concrete & Asphalt, Army Surplus, NAPA Auto Parts,Shaka Paw Pet Store, and Jeremy Dunn at ReMax.
SMS contribute more than $1,600 and more than $3,000 was brought in with the raffle items donated by the businesses, Duebendorfer said.
"Not only do we want to thank the sponsors and those who donated, but also the hundreds of people who came out the day of and showed their support," she said. "The event had such a good turn out that we’ve been asked to make it a yearly occasion and we plan to do many more events like this in the future."
The business decided to hold the fundraiser as a way to raised needed funds for first responders but also to thank them for everything they did during this year's fire season.
"With all the devastating fires we’ve had in recent years, we know that local law enforcement has had their hands full with evacuations and the fire departments were busy making sure everyone had homes left to return to," SMS officials said in an email at the time. "We thought this would be a perfect way to pull together as a community in support of our local heroes and safe-keepers!"