The Tyrone Area Community Organization has scheduled its annual radio auction at 10:45 a.m. on Feb. 8 on WTRN 1340 AM.
Since 1991, the radio auction has been TACO’s largest fundraiser for the year.
“Last year we raised $5,000, which was our biggest fundraiser ever, our biggest auction ever,” said Ruth Brower, president of TACO.
The money the organization raises goes right back into the Tyrone community. The events and awards that TACO sponsors over the year include: the Easter egg hunt, the fishing rodeo, the Tyrone Halloween Parade, a Distinguished Service award and Boss of the Year award.
“Everything that we raise goes right back into the events that we do,” added vice president of TACO Dave Kaup.
TACO also sponsors a pee wee baseball team and a youth football competition, as well as awards a scholarship for a senior girl and boy graduating from Tyrone.
The organization started preparing for the radio auction back in December 2002. Members sent letters to more than 290 local businesses in search of donations. More than ninety percent of the businesses are expected to respond.
Donations for the auction are still being accepted. They can be in the form of merchandise, a gift certificate, or a monetary donation. For more information, contact Ruth Brower at 684-3386 or Dave Kaup at 684-1592. Gift certificates can be sent directly to the TACO mailbox at P.O. Box 128, Tyrone, PA 16686.
“We have a family membership at the YMCA, a portrait package from Moments photography, Home Interiors items, restaurant gift certificates, oil changes from different garages, state inspections, cases of oil, a Kevin Harvick collectible (die-cast car), passes to Delgrosso’s Park and Lakemont Park, all different items from local businesses like Sheetz or Logan Beverage,” added Brower.
The auction items are on display in attorney Ned Newlin’s window on Pennsylvania Avenue. To find the TACO web site, go to www.wtrn.net. Pictures of auction items can also be seen on-line on the web site.
Cary Simpson, owner of WTRN, has been an asset to the radio auction over the years.
“He donates all the air time and the web site that we use for people to be able to see what we auction off,” said Kaup.
The actual event is a very busy day for the TACO participants. They set up in the new Daily Herald offices downtown at around 8 a.m. Members need to keep track of all the business donations on cards. A black board is used to write down the name of the business, item, retail price, and bid. This system is used to keep track of what is being bid on and when. At around 10:30 or 10:45 a.m. the auction begins on the radio, and members of TACO are busy answering the phones as listeners call in to bid. Meanwhile, there is someone broadcasting over the radio everything that is happening. Last year the broadcast lasted close to midnight until all the items were sold.
It is a fun way for listeners to bid on a nice item from a local business and to help support TACO.
“We’re hoping to get more participation from the community this year,” added Kaup.
It is also a promotional tool for businesses if they send information to read over the radio airwaves along with an item to TACO. In exchange for donations, TACO can read the location, business hours, and the service or products offered by the local business.
“Without the businesses we couldn’t do it, and without the people calling into bid on them, we couldn’t do it,” explained Brower.
If anyone in the Tyrone area is interested in becoming a member of TACO, the group is always looking for new volunteers. Currently, the organization has approximately 25 members.
“We’re always looking for new members. We meet at Epworth Manor the second Thursday of every month,” added Brower.
