ROCKINGHAM — Although there won’t be an auction this year, more than $9,000 in cash and gift cards will be up for grabs Tuesday.
The Rockingham Rotary decided against its annual auction — after forgoing the event completely in 2020 — due to the rise in Delta variant COVID cases earlier this year.
Erring on the side of caution, the civic group opted for a raffle instead, according to president Kristina Leyden.
As of 6:30 p.m., there were only about 10 remaining tickets for the Lucky 4 drawing, featuring three $1,000 cash prizes and a grand prize of $5,000.
Leyden said Rotary members would also be selling tickets for the Visa gift card raffle — two cards with amounts of $500 and $1,000 — up until the early afternoon.
The drawing for both raffles begins at 2 p.m.
In addition, Rotary is selling barbecue and chicken plates for $8 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Rockingham.
Leyden said the club has already sold more than 1,500 plates — exceeding its goal of 1,200 — and the remaining plates will be available until sold out.
“We didn’t know what to expect … but people are very supportive,” Leyden said Monday evening.
All of the money raised stays in Richmond County, she said, including four scholarships given out annually. Remaining funds are distributed to local nonprofits in the form of grants. The Rotary also sponsors the Rockingham Police Department’s annual Shop with a Cop program.
Next year, Leyden said, the club is hoping the fundraiser will return to normal.
In 2017, the club raised more than $50,000.
