Testing, testing

In a typical year, the first weekend of November usually means people would gather for the United Way of Jasper County’s Autograph and Experience Auction. With the pandemic changing so many events, the annual fundraiser was no different.

However, executive director Jessica Lowe Vokes created a virtual fundraiser for people to help out the UWJC and win some prizes along the way. The Great Big Awesome Raffle kicked off Nov. 1 and will continue through Nov. 30 with a daily prize drawing that will be posted to the UWJC’s YouTube channel and shared on its Facebook page.

“The idea for the raffle and the virtual fundraiser both came from friends who work for nonprofits. I tweaked the ideas to put a little Jessica spin on things. But I have to give full credit to my friend Amy Green who works with 4H for the raffle and Chelsea Moeller who works for a nonprofit in Maine for the virtual fundraiser ideas,” Lowe Vokes said.

So far, Lowe Vokes has raffled off gift card prizes of $50 to local businesses, cash and big items like a new coffee maker and blast onn soundbar. More than $3,000 in prizes will be drawn for throughout the month. People still have the chance to win things like a YETI cooler, DeWalt Impact Driver, a smart TV, kindle, firepit, pizzazz and more.

“We have tons of great prizes. We are supporting ‘shop local’ so we have a number of gift certificates to Jasper County businesses,” Lowe Vokes said.

Tickets can still be purchased before the final drawing for the $500 cash prize on Nov. 30. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by calling the UWJC office or by using the online ticket site, secure.qgiv.com/for/uwojc/event/819878. A $1 service charge will be added when purchasing tickets online.