Wellborn Fall Festival big hit
To benefit Toys for Tots
Visitors waiting for the next item to bid on during the auction to benefit Toys for Tots during the Wellborn Fall Festival, held November 30. -SVT Photos by Tami Stevenson
Event coordinator Annita Leonard holding an item for auction. -SVT Photo
By Tami Stevenson
The Wellborn Fall Festival to benefit Toys for Tots was well received by the community. Organizers estimated that more than 3,000 visitors attended the event.
With a chili cook-off and car show competition, many vendors, camel and pony rides, a petting zoo, games and so much more, the event was a complete success, according to Suwannee County Toys for Tots organizer Annita Leonard.
“It was very successful. We raised over $2000 with our auction. We had never tried an auction before, but it was very good!” Said Leonard.
“I want to thank all the vendors that came out. It was so cold. It rained on Friday and the ice literally froze on the top of their tents. But they came out and brought gifts.”
She wanted to thank the car club for coming out and bringing gifts as an entry fee. Some of them brought gifts, just because, she said.
“It takes hundreds of volunteers to pull this together. I would really like to thank the newspapers and radio stations because they got behind us and helped us with free and reduced advertising.”
Our people are hurting in this area right now because of the hurricanes. “These storms really hurt our area,” she said. “So we told the vendors to bring a toy if you can afford it, if not, come anyway, your space is free. It was the right thing to do.” She said it was their way of doing something for the vendors and doing something for Toys for Tots all at the same time.
“We didn’t know if people would come out for the event with it being right after Thanksgiving, but they did.”
Leonard wanted to give a special thank you to County Commissioners Franklin White, D-5, Travis Land, D-3, Leo Mobley, D-4, and the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Department for their unwavering support of our communities and this event. “We couldn’t have made this happen without them,” she added.
They received seven boxes full of toys from the Toys for Tots festival, which equaled 175 toys, three bikes and 22 stocking stuffers.
The chili tent stayed busy as visitors enjoyed sampling entrants’ favorite chili recipes during the Wellborn Fall Festival to benefit Toys for Tots. -SVT Photo
~MORE PHOTOS BELOW~
CAR SHOW WINNERS:
1st Place - #19 Gary Walker c-10 1966 Chevy
2nd Place - #9 Eddie Walker - Anna’s 69 z28vCamaro.
3rd Place - #21 Dave Holms 1953 custom Royal
MOTORCYCLE WINNERS:
1st Place - Austin Shaver
2nd Place - Glenn Millison
CHILI COOK-OFF WINNERS:
1st Place - Jose Lopez
2nd Place - Tres’ Stanley
3rd Place - Kat Harry
Toys for Tots will be accepting donations until December 23.
DROP-OFF LOCATIONS:
LIVE OAK:
Walt’s Live Oak Ford
Wes Haney Chevrolet
Premier Motors
State Farm Insurance
Elk’s Lodge
Women’s Club
Howlands
Thunder Alley, bowling alley
Dollar General at CR 137 and Hwy 27
BRANFORD:
Suwannee County Motor Vehicles, located at 604 Suwannee Ave NW, Branford, FL 32008 (Tuesdays only)
Ace Hardware Store
Tractor Supply
Wellborn:
Blake Lowe Building at 1509 4th Ave in Wellborn, FL
Country Charm
Dollar General
McALPIN:
The Diner
Pizza Stone
This above photo is only a portion of the cars that came to support Toys for Tots during the Wellborn Fall Festival last Saturday. -SVT Photo
Vendors braved harsh weather to support the festival. Friday it rained. They had ice on top of their tents Saturday morning.
Manning the Toys for Tots booth is Inga Dwyer, Columbia and Lafayette County Toys for Tots organizer. -SVT Photo
Left, Jerome Carter, DJ for Talk Radio FM 107.5 in Jasper, with Ellawese Washington. This is Carter’s first time at a Wellborn event and said he was enjoying it so much, he will visit again. -SVT Photo
Kids enjoyed the petting zoo. -SVT Photo
Inside the Country Store, Mindy Janousek behind the counter with Michelle Boyd (not pictured) giving samples of their Brunswick Stew with 3 meats. -SVT Photo
Michael Cwart with Boris the camel who is always a favorite at the festivals. He is 10 years old and still growing! -SVT Photo
Sgt. Brian Barrs, left, and Sgt. Lee Willis said the sheriff’s office had a booth at the event although the election is over, they will stay engaged with the community regardless of politics. They handed out bike safety info for kids and more. -SVT Photo
