By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Kids are encouraged to sign up to show off their culinary skills during the United Way of Ellis County community kickoff Saturday.
The United Way is sponsoring a hamburger cook-off for children ages 6 through 12 at noon Saturday in the Downtown Hays Pavilion. The registration deadline has been extended until the end of day Friday. Children can register online. The registration fee is $25 with the proceeds going to the United Way.
Dillons is providing the meat, and charcoal grills will be provided by the Downtown Hays Development Corp. Contestants need to bring utensils, seasoning, condiments, toppings and buns. The children must be accompanied by an adult.
The children’s creations will be judged, and the top three contestants will go home with prizes.
The event also will feature a scavenger hunt for adults. Tickets are $10. For each letter in United Way, there is an object listed. Participants have to match the objects with eight participating businesses.
For every $65 in mercahndise a ticket holder purchases at one of the participating business, they will receive a $10 discount.
Representatives of the United Way partner agencies will be at the kick off Saturday, so residents can learn more about how the agencies work in the community.
“This is something we want to do every year with the community,” Sherry Dryden, United Way executive director, said, “but we want to make sure we do some kind of activity that is family oriented.”
The United Way board has set a fundraising goal of $400,000 this year. That is down from last year’s goal of $450,000. United Way raised $395,000 in 2017. Fundraising will be ongoing now through the end of the year.
United Way of Ellis County is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year and has scheduled a variety of activities and fundraisers to honor that milestone.
The agency will kick off its campaign with the business community at noon Friday during the chamber luncheon at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall.
United Way is collaborating with Fort Hays State University to sponsor a women’s self-defense class from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 8, at the FHSU mat room. Registration can be done online. Cost is $10 per person.
Other community events will include the United Way Golf Tournament Sept. 30 at the Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course, Pumpkin Roll and Run Saturday Oct. 28 at Pa’s Pumpkin Patch, annual Night of Giving on Friday, Nov. 3 at Big Creek Crossing, online auction at the end of October and weekly Dine Out Days. See the United Way website for a list of events.
The grand prize at the golf tournament this year will be a golf trip to the Clairmont Inn in Stratton, Colo.
The United Way is also trying to connect with the community through a kindness rock campaign. Sixty-five painted rocks have been placed throughout the community with the note “This rock you did find. Now do a good deed in kind, then return to the United Way for a prize and to be recognized.” The rocks can be returned to the United Way for a small prize.
“We just want to bring awareness to individuals and families that the United Way is more than giving. We definitely need the giving to continue services in Ellis County, but also to do a good deed for others,” Dryden said.
Dryden said families have already brought in rocks with their stories of good deeds.
You can donate to the United Way any time online. Click here.
