Valley community looks to ‘Come Together’

By Brian M. Boyce
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE April 22, 2009 09:21 pm

— Four causes, four fundraisers — all for the community of West Terre Haute.
“This is the very first benefit I’ve ever done, and I didn’t know there was so much work in it,” laughed Laura Large, a volunteer with Come Together, a grassroots community campaign to help West Terre Haute.
In an effort to raise funds for the Vigo County Public Library branch in West Terre Haute, the community center, the food bank and flood victims, Come Together has planned four events between May 23 and June 6.
The first will be a spaghetti dinner from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at the Young Men’s Club at 9 E. Paris Ave. Live music by West Vigo’s own Mountain River Band will be featured.
A cake and pie auction, along with a 50/50 drawing, will be included.
For motorcycle riders, on Saturday, June 6, “The Amazing Basket Biker Challenge” will offer a mystery run. Registration is at the Vigo County Fairgrounds at 9 a.m. and the ride begins at 10 a.m. Each stop will feature a basket containing a clue and instructions as to the next stop, and all clues lead to solving the mystery of the run’s theme. The entry fee is $10.
Immediately after the run, the bikes can park at the fairgrounds as state Rep. Bruce Borders, R-Jasonville, ditches his Statehouse garb for some blue suede shoes. Borders will perform as Elvis from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., along with The Frost Band, another West Terre Haute group. Concessions will be available, and a silent auction is planned.
Booth space is available for vendors at $25 per booth.
The group is also planning a “Jail and Bail” for some time between these events, Large said, explaining that a specific time and date have not yet been set. Individuals may have others placed under a mock arrest with their bail money donated to the cause.
Large said she doesn’t want to burn people out, but the events should be exciting enough to keep their attention.
“The food bank really needs help,” she said, adding that every business in West Terre Haute has donated items for the silent auction.
Money raised at the events will be split between the recipients, with consideration given to those still suffering from damage from last year’s floods.
Large said the group has not set a specific fundraising goal. “If I do that, I’ll bite myself,” she said. “We just want to get as much as we can.”
From Borders to the bands to the venues, in-kind donations are running strong, and Large said more are needed.
“Right now we just really need donations,” she said.
An account in the name of “Come Together” has been established at First Financial Bank and donations can be made at any branch.
For more information, contact Large at (812) 533-2636 or laura.large@yahoo.com.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.