To the editor:

The Brown County Weekend Backpacks program hosted the Second Annual Watermelon Festival Aug. 27. Although we set it all up in the rain, it turned out to be a beautiful day. We were able to raise over $1,100 to provide weekend meals to children in our community.

A special thank-you to the Watermelon Festival committee for all of the hard work you provided: Clara Stanley, Sandy Higgins, Marylin Day, Gloria Berryman, Jan Swigert, Linda Wescott and Linda Todd.

Also, thank you to the following additional helpers to make this the event so wonderful: Donna Niednagel; Sally Sanders; Mike, Sharon and Jamie Bube; Tona Martin Nelson; Bill Todd; Bill Swigert; Jenni Combest; Sally Sanders; Jim Oliver; Boy Scouts; Jeff Mooney; Barb Dooley; Leanna Spurlock; Kendall Cochrane; Cheryl Spurlock; Jessica Couch; Donna Marks and Jessica Oden.

We were entertained all afternoon by the following people: Aidan Blankenship and his band, Jennifer Blankenship, PB&Js (Angie Aumage, Joyce Jordan Cassal and Phil Sloffer) and Nate Tipton. Thank you for sharing your talents.

Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial has agreed to match our fundraising efforts for this event; thank you Kristine Skaarsgard for your help in making this happen.

Also, thank you to the following people and businesses for providing items for our silent auction and other donations: Brownie’s Restaurant, Forever Sweet LLC, Chocolate Moose, Laura Hammack, Goldilocks Hair Salon, Mandy Simmons Hair Salon, Clara Stanley, Moondance Vacation Rentals, Sue Westhues, Charlene Marsh, Paula White, Cox Creek Mill, Nashville Express Train Tour, Linda Todd, Rita Simon, Donna Marks, the Brown County Democrat, Brown County Health and Living Community, Papertrix, Hidden Valley Inn, Salt Creek Golf Retreat, The Seasons Lodge & Conference Center, Brown County Parks & Recreation, Brown County Community YMCA, Hesitation Point, Wishful Thinking, Nashville Fudge Kitchen, Sweetea’s, Foxfire Boutiques, Felted Sweater Creations, Brown County Winery, Creekside Retreat, Miller’s Ice Cream, Marylin Day, Diane Bledsoe-Wigell, BP Service Station, Mary Kay Senior Director Beth Drew, Maggie Linscott, Nat Lavengood, Sally Sanders, Bob Ormiston, Jan Swigert, Barb Brooke Davis, Common Grounds, Carol Drake — Touch of Silver Gold & Old, IGA, CVS, Casa Del Sol, Amanda Grider, Patty Frensemeier of Hills O’Brown Vacation Rentals, Nashville United Methodist Church, St. David’s Episopal Church and the Bean Blossom Farmers Market. We are so very grateful to the amazing support of this community.

Brown County Weekend Backpacks is a community-led program whose goal is keeping hungry children fed with nutritious food all weekend long during the school year.

If you would like information or would like to assist with this countywide effort, contact us at [email protected].

“No child deserves to go to bed hungry!”

Respectfully submitted,

Jenise Bohbrink, Brown County Weekend Backpacks Watermelon Festival

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