'AVERAGE' AUCTION ON THURSDAY TO BENEFIT SADI

Upscale auctions for worthy causes have their place. But for the past five years, the primary fund raiser for the SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence has been an event executive director Miki Gudermuth describes as an auction for the average person.

"It's the average person who comes to it and the average person we do services for," she said.

Proceeds will be used to help build ramps or make other home modifications for people with disabilities who are unable to pay for these adaptations. The organization also has started a new program for people with disabilities who need help with transporation. The cost will be $1 per trip.

Ninety-five percent of the donations come from businesses and consist of new merchandise and services, including certificates from restaurants, gift certificates from clothing stores and jewelers, and actual goods from stores such as taster ovens, cassette players, calculators, tool sets and framed pictures.

Other items up for auction are a Coke bottle collection, a Wizard of Oz collection, a racecar bank, two books by Jean Bell Mosley and an antique metal basket.

Walmart has agreed to match the amount SADI raises in the auction.

This year's auction will begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Rainbow Auction Barn near Center Junction.

Donations of items to be auctioned will be accepted through Thursday afternoon at the SADI offices, 121 S. Broadview Plaza, Suite 12. Any item in good condition is welcome except heavy furniture.

Another SADI program chips in if someone needs help paying their utility bill. "It's on a small-scale basis," says Leemon Priest, SADI's administrative assistant. "... We can't go a great amount."

SADI serves the counties of Cape Girardeau, Scott, Bollinger, Perry and Mississippi.

For more information about the auction or about SADI, phone 651-6464.