SALVATION ARMY HOLDS AUCTION

More than 60 businesses have done their part to make the Cape Girardeau Salvation Army auction today a success.

Auction organizer Darrell McIntyre said he hopes the Salvation Army will raise about $3,000 through the auction of the donated merchandise and git certificates.

"We came up about $3,000 short on expenses for Promise Keepers plus sending kids to camp this summer," McIntyre said. If the auction meets this goal the Salvation Army will be sending 16 men to a Promise Keepers meeting, an event that emphasizes men's role in taking care of their responsibilities to their families and themselves, in September.

"That may be shooting a little high, but we hope we'll be able to raise that much," McIntyre added.

"Some of these gentlemen are from nursing homes and they're on fixed incomes and don't have the money to pay their way."

Salvation Army volunteers collected donations from as far away as St. Louis.

"We're hoping to have about 150 items," McIntyre said.

The auction will start at 6 p.m. in the gymnasium of the Salvation Army building at 701 Good Hope St., with L.R. Brandis of Brandis Auction Service conducting the procedure.

As the first of its kind, this auction will determine the possible future of the event at the Salvation Army.

"We're hoping this one will go well enough that we can do one every year," McIntyre said.