Rotary Clubs Raise Over $2,600 for Scholarships with Grocery Grab Fundraiser
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. — The Excelsior Springs and Lawson Rotary Clubs held their annual “Grocery Grab” fundraiser on Saturday morning at the Price Chopper in Excelsior Springs, raising more than $2,600 to support their scholarship fundraising efforts.
Check out the highlights of Brad’s Grocery Grab run on the Excelsior Citizen YouTube Channel!
For weeks, Rotary members sold tickets to community members in Excelsior Springs and Lawson, offering a chance to participate in the Grocery Grab, an event similar to the classic television game show Supermarket Sweep. From the hundreds of tickets sold, five finalists were chosen at random. These finalists gathered at Price Chopper at 9 a.m. on Saturday, where a final drawing further narrowed the field. Those eliminated received gift baskets valued at over $100, courtesy of Rotary members.
The other four finalists received gift baskets valued at $100 or more.
In the final drawing, the winning ticket belonged to Justin Rothove of Lawson. But there was a twist, Rothove and his family were unable to attend the event. In his stead, he selected his neighbor, Brad Dunaway, to run the store on his behalf.
“Justin called me last week and said, ‘I’ve got a bone to pick with you!’” Dunaway laughed. “He didn’t know he had been entered, but Jo [Brad’s wife] had bought tickets and put Justin’s name down. When Justin realized he couldn’t make it, he told me I had to do it.”
Dunaway’s strategy was clear. He spent the majority of his time gathering ingredients for the perfect barbecue, knowing that Rothove enjoys grilling regularly for his large family. By the end of his run, Dunaway had collected $623.97 worth of groceries for the Rothove family. As Dunaway loaded up the groceries, he smiled from ear to ear, reflecting on the joy of the moment. “They’re going to be so excited,” he said. “When they get home, it’s going to be like an early Christmas present for them.”
The Grocery Grab was a success, not only for the Rothove family but also for the Rotary clubs, who will use a majority of the proceeds to fund local scholarships for graduating seniors. The Excelsior Springs Rotary Club also contributes to various charitable organizations in the community, and once a year, they collect socks and shoes for a program called, Shoes for Orphan Soles. You’ll often see their members at events in the community or at local football games selling tickets for their 50/50 raffle (another of their fundraising efforts).
The Excelsior Springs Rotary Club meets every Thursday at noon for a friendly lunch gathering. Members hear from guest speakers representing local organizations and businesses making a difference in the community. The club welcomes anyone interested in community service and leadership development. To learn more about how to get involved or to attend a meeting, visit the Excelsior Springs Rotary Club Facebook Page for details.
If you appreciate the value our local journalism brings to the community, please consider making a recurring contribution to the Excelsior Citizen!
