Priceville scarecrows help raise money for charities
Oct. 3—PRICEVILLE — Forty-eight scarecrows and their sponsors are helping raise money for infant car seats and an inclusive playground for the disabled in Morgan County.
It is all a part of a Junior League of Morgan County project, said Leah Ferguson, Junior League president.
Sponsors pay the Junior League $85 and get a hay bale, a sign and a 6-foot “T” post for their scarecrow, she said. Then they build a scarecrow with other materials. Through Nov. 5, the scarecrows will be featured at Priceville Veterans Park for kids and others to enjoy. Some of the scarecrows fit the businesses or organizations that sponsored them. For example, Priceville Recreation Association is making its scarecrow a soccer player, and Summit Veterinary Care is making its scarecrow a cat, Ferguson said.
“I did one, too,” Ferguson said. “Mine is built like a haunted house. The idea is that if your (current) house is scary, I can find you another one because I am a Realtor.”
The Junior League will donate whatever money it has left after expenses.
“It’s a fundraiser for PACT and Everyday Sunshine,” Ferguson said.
Everyday Sunshine is a nonprofit that helps those with disabilities. It is building an inclusive playground and the donation from the Junior League will help with that, Ferguson said.
PACT stands for Parents and Children Together and is an abuse-prevention nonprofit in Decatur.
“They are starting a new car seat program called ‘Buckle Up Baby’ and some money will be going to that to buy car seats,” Ferguson said.
This is the second year for the scarecrows in the park, she said. The first year they raised about $2,500 and this year they have already raised $3,500.
“We want to earn more every year,” Ferguson said.
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Car seats
Susan Roberts, executive director of PACT, said her organization made a grant application to the Junior League and will receive money for the car seats so children can have safe rides.
“A lot of families don’t have the funds because car seats are not cheap anymore,” she said. “They can be quite expensive.”
She said the average car seat can cost more than $100, and many cost much more.
“We wanted something that could really make an impact, and several staff members said car seats are needed because children grow out of one car seat and need another,” Roberts said.
She said some hospitals don’t give away car seats like they used to.
“You can’t count on it anymore,” she said. “We’re very appreciative and excited about the opportunity that the Junior League has afforded us.”
She is unsure how many car seats their donation will buy because that depends on the age of the child and what kind of seat is required.
“We try to make the money go as far as we can,” Roberts said.
As soon as they get the donation, they will set up an assessment process for people to qualify for a free car seat, she said.
Nick Garner of Alpha Insurance sponsored one of the scarecrows this year.
“They contacted me about the scarecrow event they had going on and I decided to set up a scarecrow — Jack Skellington from the movie ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas.’ I like the movie, and I have two young kids who like the movie.”
He supports the Junior League with many of their projects throughout the year.
“It’s a good organization that supports a lot of good causes. They give a ton of money to PACT every year. Ever since I’ve been in business here locally, I’ve tried to support the Junior League,” Garner said. “They have a golf tournament once a year and a couple of other events and lots of fundraisers for good organizations that they support.”
You can find the scarecrows at the Veterans Park at 520 Alabama 67 South in Priceville.
“This has been a really fun event for the community,” Ferguson said. “The kids love it.”
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