Downtown Emporia was one green place Saturday, and with good reason.
The St. Patrick’s Committee culminated its traditional fundraising activities with a parade, special arts event at the Emporia Arts Center and beer garden at Town Royal. Spokesperson Barb Lowery says there was a big attendance, helped by temperatures in the 60s with little wind and the community’s emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The parade featured over 20 entries, while young artists could make special binoculars during an hour-long event at the Arts Center. Saturday also featured the end of the virtual Leprechaun Dash 5K.
Financial totals are pending, but Lowery says fundraising should be strong after last month’s auction topped $21,000 and corporate sponsorships — which replaced the traditional raffle — brought in three times the normal raffle amount. Proceeds benefit 13 different community organizations.
St. Patrick’s Committee 2022 beneficiaries
*ESU Special Education Event Planning Committee
*Shiloh Home of Hope
*North Lyon County Veterans Memorial
*What’s in Outdoors
*USD 252 Early Childhood Program
*Hetlinger Developmental Services
*Didde Catholic Campus Center
*USD 253 Transitions
*Buffy Animal Welfare Group
*Hartford Veterans Appreciation Committee
*Forever Home Pet Rescue
*Camp Hope
*St. Patrick’s Committee scholarship at Flint Hills Technical College
