By Brandon Bennett
STURGIS—The Key City Giving Gals held their fall fundraiser at the Oasis September 28th,and the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department was the recipient of the grant.
The nonprofits nominated were Society of St. Vincent De Paul, Sturgis Public Library, Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department, Sturgis Outdoors and Sturgis Arts Council. Kerrie Bradley Applegate was emcee and representatives of the nominees presented their proposals to the group.
First, though,Police Chief Geody Vandewater thanked the group for the Spring grant to the Animal Shelter and said progress is being made on improving the shelter. Then,Reed Beldin with the Fire Department, Dede LaRue with the Arts Council, Sierra Frazier-Riggs with the Sturgis Public Library,Candi Thomson with Society of St. Vincent DePaul and Bill Phillips with Sturgis Outdoors gave their spiel on why they were the best choice for the gals.
When the dust settled,the Fire Department had received the most votes.
Due to some lag in getting all the donations in,the Giving Gals presented a check to the Fire Department for $18,000 but will remit another one to bring the total to $22,800. Reed Beldin was grateful to the group fir selecting them. “We are really grateful. It’s not just the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department that’s getting this but it’s the entire community and the greater community in Meade County that’s receiving this gift. We really appreciate it,” he said.
Founding member Lori Jeffery said the hardest part of the event is choosing from the final five nominees. “They’re all deserving. It’s pretty black and white when the nominations come in so it boils down to the number of nominations.But all of them are so well deserving,” she said.
She added the beauty of the Giving Gals is nonprofits can be nominated again if they weren’t chosen, so members can keep trying.
