Helping local non-profits, Fall Festival for all

MEEKER I The Mountain Valley Bank Fall Festival will celebrate its 10th year on Saturday.
Mountain Valley Bank, together with co-sponsors White River Electric Association and ERBM Recreation and Park District, have teamed up to produce the event, which has grown to become a true community event that serves as a fun-filled day for the community and a fund-raising opportunity for Meeker’s various fund-raising and non-profit groups.
Meeker Mayor Mandi Etheridge has proclaimed Saturday as “Community Day.”
The sponsors’ efforts have paid off tremendously, as more than $85,000 has been earned by non-profit groups in the past nine years. The sponsors hope to reach their goal and set a record this year by helping the participating fund-raising groups earn more than $15,000. This would represent overmore than $100,000 earned by non-profit groups in the Meeker community over the Fall Festival’s 10-year history!
The Fall Festival sponsors help get the party started by giving every person who attends the event $5 in Mountain Valley Bank Bucks just for coming. Added MVB Bucks can be earned by bringing non-perishable items for the Meeker Food Pantry.
The ladies at the Methodist Church indicate that the donations at the Fall Festival are the largest of the year and are an integral part of the Food Pantry being able to give the rest of the year.
After spending their MVB Bucks, the Fall Festival Committee encourages the community to continue to eat, play and have fun by spending their dollars as well. All food, beverage and activity booths accept MVB Bucks and/or cash.
Remember that every dollar spent at the event benefits Meeker’s own. The funds raised help many of the organizations reach their budget needs for the year, enhance their programs and/or take trips that enrich Meeker’s youth. Think of it like this: The more you eat and play, the more you help the Meeker community.
This year, the Fall Festival Committee has created a new and fun reason to participate in the activities at the Fall Festival. Each time you play at an activity, you earn tickets. These tickets are redeemable at the new Fall Festival Prize Booth. Accumulate tickets to earn the large prizes or seek instant gratification and spend your tickets on fun smaller prizes. Look for the booth with the balloons and decide what prize you want!
Another way to spend the tickets you earn is to find the Fall Festival Challenge Obstacle Course and pay tickets to run the course. The Leader Board will keep track of the fastest participant and time for each age category. The fastest times of the day are awarded exciting prizes at the end of the Fall Festival. We “Fall Festival Challenge” you to play!!
Kicking off the Fall Festival is fun and healthy with the Scrub Shirt Classic, Pioneers Medical Center’s 5K Walk/Run and 1 Mile Fun Run. The race benefits Meeker’s local cancer awareness programs. The race starts Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at the corner of 5th and Park streets. Pre-registration information is available by contacting Margie Joy at 878-9317 or Jamie Wood at 878-5047, Ext. 127. Information is also available online at www.pioneershospital.org. Get out and get your heart pumping for a great cause!
Want to leave your mark on Meeker’s culinary charts? Participate in the Main Street Building’s pie, salsa and jam/jelly contests. Great cash prizes and bragging rights for the next 12 months are at stake. Have fun, share your favorite culinary delights and benefit the Meals on Wheels program all at the same time. See the article on 4B for details on how to enter.
The 10th Annual Fall Festival is stacking up to be the largest festival yet with more than 20 fund-raising groups participating, in excess of 30 games, food and beverage booths to enjoy, this year is not one to miss.
The weather forecast looks clear with temperatures in the 60s.
Gather your friends, family and neighbors and join Mountain Valley Bank, White River Electric Association and ERBM Recreation and Park District in celebrating our wonderful Meeker community!