Throughout pandemic, Holly’s Club of Smyrna continues community giving

Group’s online auction ends Saturday

By Leann Schenke
Posted 5/19/21

SMYRNA — Despite a year derailed by COVID-19, the Holly’s Club is continuing its tradition of supporting people and families in need with its 37th Spring Fling, an online silent auction.

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Throughout pandemic, Holly’s Club of Smyrna continues community giving

Group’s online auction ends Saturday

Posted

SMYRNA — Despite a year derailed by COVID-19, the Holly’s Club is continuing its tradition of supporting people and families in need with its 37th Spring Fling, an online silent auction.

“I think those of us who have the privilege to support others should be, in every way that they’re capable,” said Sarah Sfamurri, club president. “A community is defined by how we support those who are struggling, and that’s what this organization tries to do — be one of those pillars of support for our community.”

The auction began May 15 and continues through 8 p.m. Saturday.

The primary beneficiaries for 2021 are the Fresh Start Resource Center of Smyrna and the club’s own Community and Scholarship funds.

Fresh Start Resource Center — a nonprofit that supports the Smyrna, Clayton and surrounding areas through weekly food giveaways during the school year, as well as distribution of other necessary items — was meant to be the recipient of the proceeds from last year’s auction prior to the onset of the pandemic.

The club elected to continue with 2020’s plans “mostly because (Fresh Start Resource Center) does really good philanthropic work within our community for people who are trying to get back on their feet,” Ms. Sfamurri said.

“Fresh Start Resource Center does a myriad of work,” she added. “They give out fresh food boxes every week, and they help with clothing and blankets. They help with bus passes, and they help with housing. It’s such a well-rounded organization that helps in so many areas.”

Proceeds from the auction also will be moved into the club’s Community Fund, which supports a range of efforts, Ms. Sfamurri said. In the last decade, she said the club has given away more than $200,000 from its Community Fund to beneficiaries like Fresh Start Resource Center or to scholarships for graduating high school students.

For more information or to bid on an item, visit the Holly's Club's Facebook page and join the event “2021 Holly’s Club Spring Fling-Silent Auction.”

“It’s just so cool,” Ms. Sfamurri said. “I feel like this organization is so fun and unique because we give support in so many different ways.”

She added that the club has offered 56 scholarships to graduating seniors in the Smyrna and Clayton communities, totaling more than $37,000 since 2011. She said the scholarships are mostly based on financial need, along with academic success and service to the community.

The group also offers support throughout the year with its Thanksgiving baskets for the Mamie A. Warren Senior Center in Smyrna and the Lillian Smith Senior Center in Clayton.

In addition, during the holiday season, the club creates baskets filled with toys, as well as gifts for parents or guardians, for nearby families of school-age children.

While the club was unable to host its Spring Fling in its typical manner last year, Ms. Sfamurri said there was an online raffle for items like a Yeti cooler and crabs. Though the raffle was popular with the community and the virtual auction is going well so far, she said she missed the “community feel” the club offers.

“That ‘being together’ part really does celebrate what we do,” Ms. Sfamurri said. “It’s been hard not to have. The money raised and the support for the community is awesome. That’s obviously our No. 1 priority, but getting together with the other people who support us and our organization and celebrating — that has been hard not to have.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Sfamurri said the club’s mission of helping the community hasn’t changed, only intensified.

“We give to families after a house fire or a tragic death or (to) those struggling to make payments to fill their oil tank or electric bill,” she said. “I don’t feel like our giving has changed. It just is more important now that people are suffering on a grander scale.”

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