Community support ensures benefit’s success

Community support made its Oktoberfest benefit of raising money for community first responders a huge success, officials from SMS Auto & Marine said.

“It was incredible to see how the community came together for such a great cause,” said Hallie Dübendorfer recently about the event.

The benefit earned $ 4,407.07 donated to local first responders “as a thank you for the hard work they’ve done, not just during the tough fire season and law enforcement times, but all year round,” said Duebendorfer.

Local companies who worked with SMS Auto & Marine on the event include CO-OP Gas & Supply, who donated funds for the rentals needed for the event; Woods Meats, which offered a discount on all smokies and sausages on offer; and Wingsong Farms, Tasty’s Eatery and Wine Bar and Laughing Dog Brewing, who made sure drinks were available, said Dübendorfer.

Companies that donated raffle items also included Sugar Tooth, Northwest Autobody, Bella Terra Boutique, Integrity Armory, Mac’s Custom Tie Downs, Interstate Concrete & Asphalt, Army Surplus, NAPA Auto Parts, Shaka Paw Pet Store, and Jeremy Dunn of ReMax.

SMS contributed more than $ 1,600 and more than $ 3,000 was brought in with raffle items donated by the companies, Dübendorfer said.

“We would like to thank not only the sponsors and donors, but also the hundreds of people who came on the day of the year and showed their support,” she said. “The event was so well attended that we were asked to hold it annually and we plan to hold many more of this type in the future.”

The company decided to run the fundraiser to raise funds for first responders but also to thank them for everything they did during this year’s fire season.

“With all of the devastating fires we’ve had in recent years, we know that local law enforcement had their hands full with evacuations and fire departments were busy making sure everyone had a home,” said SMS- Officials in an email at the time. “We thought this would be a perfect way to pull together as a community to support our local heroes and safekeepers!”