The community supported Eastside Community Ministry’s annual CHAIR-ity Auction in a big way. According to the ECM website, $29,335.45 was raised and will go towards the programs and services that ECM provides. This included funds earned through the raffle, monetary donations, a balloon pop/emPOWER Hour, and the online and silent auctions.
The event was held once again at Colony Square Mall. Several of the mall’s food establishments supported the CHAIR-ity Auction by donating food for the kick-off. The 146 provided a variety of appetizers, The Chatty Cat Café made three flavors of lemonade, and Auntie Anne’s served pretzel nuggets.
“Eastside Community Ministries is all about the aspect of community joining together for the benefit of helping people in need. One of the main functions of the mall is to serve as a community gathering place. We are always so grateful to be able to take part in the amazing work that ECM is doing on a daily basis. It really is remarkable to see the supportive generosity and creativity of our wonderful community firsthand,” shared Colony Square Mall General Manager Jessica Brailer.
ECM has been serving the community since 1958. The non-profit provides a series of “everyday programs” such as a Food Pantry, Eastside Essentials, and a Year-Round Youth Program. These are considered everyday programs because they are offered all year long. The CHAIR-ity Auction helps to support all three of those programs.
“We want to be a safe place for people where they feel loved. And we don’t press any kind of agenda on anyone. If you need a place to go, if you have a need, come and see us. If we cannot help with that need, then we have a lot of wonderful local community partners that we can hopefully refer them to,” said Executive Director Jamie Trout.
If you did not have a chance to support ECM through this year’s CHAIR-ity Auction, there are still ways to help. Monetary donations can be made through the ECM website www.eastsideministry.org/Support/Donate-Online, through Venmo @EastsideMinistry, or by mailing a donation to Eastside Community Ministry, PO Box 965, 221 Stillwell Street, Zanesville, OH 43702-0965.
CAPTION: Chairs on display for the CHAIR-ity Auction silent auction held at the Colony Square Mall. | CREDIT: Lynette Dotson, The Buzz
