Generous Hands, Inc. (GHI) is a Vicksburg nonprofit that provides backpacks of food for hungry school children each weekend during the school year and each month during the summer. To support this effort, the organization needs plenty of volunteer help and lots of dollars. Its Fall Extravaganza is set for Thursday, October 13, at 6:30 p.m. at Lakeland Reformed Church, to raise money to fill the backpacks.
The term “generous hands” also describes kindhearted community members, like Sue Dornbos, a founding board member of the nonprofit, according to fellow founding member and past President Dr. Paula Schriemer. “She used her hands to paint, quilt, knit and sew many unique items for auction at the Generous Hands annual Fall Extravaganza.” A quilt she made will be featured at the Silent Auction, available to the highest bidder.
Sue passed away in May 2016 after a three and a half year battle with ovarian cancer. “She is no longer with us, but her friends will carry on her spirit of love and generosity with this year’s Fall Extravaganza,” Schriemer said. Dornbos was one of the founding members of Generous Hands and served on its board for a number of years.
Chef Ryan Soule of the Oakwood Bistro will again share his cooking talents from the stage in the church’s recreation hall. The Vicksburg Jazz Band has volunteered to provide live music, and of course many locally-made crafts and gift baskets will be available for bids in the silent auction. In addition, students from the National Honor Society will be on hand to assist the event in various capacities. Proceeds from this years’ Extravaganza will be used by Generous Hands to supply vouchers to their families for the Vicksburg Farmer’s Market in 2017.
The doors will open at 6 p.m. for auction item review and the cooking program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Tickets for this event are $10 per person. They are available from any Generous Hands board member, at the door or obtained by calling 269-370-7965.