Holmes County Spring Festival supports disabilities

An important spring festival is on the cusp of raising funds for a worthy cause, and auction fanatics, foodies, volleyball players and especially the people at the Holmes County Board of Developmental Disabilities couldn’t be more excited about its arrival.

The Holmes County BDD Spring Festival will take place beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, May 8 and 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9 on the BDD grounds and will feature plenty of activities and the auctions.

The auction will benefit the children and adults who receive services from the Holmes County BDD, and according to Superintendent Marianne Mader, it will be a two-day celebration. The Spring Festival is sponsored by the Holmes County Association for Handicapped Citizens, which has undertaken this large task over the years.

“The annual Spring Festival is a family-friendly benefit auction with additional games, raffle prizes, food and entertainment for the whole family. The auction features Amish craft furniture, live music and fun, with all proceeds benefiting children and adults with developmental disabilities in Holmes County,” Mader said. “It has been an integral part of our fundraising process, and we are thrilled to be able to invite everyone to come out and participate and just have a fun, relaxing time.”

Friday evening will feature the volleyball tournament, which is set up on the north side of the facility. Area teams will have a blast playing well into the night, where floodlights will usher in plenty of night play from 6 p.m. to at least midnight.

“That is such a fun, relaxing night for people to come out and have some great food while watching the volleyball teams or just catching up with people they haven’t seen for a while,” Mader said.

The night also will feature a trio of live musical acts. Beginning at 6 p.m., The Nisleys will take the stage, with County Line Band following at 7 p.m. and Undivided wrapping up the evening’s musical venue at 8 p.m.

There will be soup and sandwiches and other food available from 4:30-11 p.m. including a bake sale from 3-10 p.m. The bake sale will continue Saturday beginning at 7 a.m.

Saturday will kick off with a full breakfast at 7 a.m. There will be a chicken barbecue meal beginning at 10:30 a.m., with dine-in and takeout available. All food is by donation only, and hungry attendees won’t want to wait too long because this barbecue is highly anticipated.

The 5k and DD Fun Run will take flight at 8 a.m., and then the bidding action will begin.

Saturday’s auction set will begin with the crafts and furniture auction at 9 a.m. A silent auction also will begin at that time and operate until noon. The “specials” auction will kickstart at 12:30 p.m. and will feature plenty of outdoor equipment, a hunting blind, a lawn mower and outdoor furniture. The quilt auction will begin immediately following the craft auction, with dozens of colorful quilts.

Saturday also will feature various carnival-like children’s games where kids can participate, win tickets and eventually turn them in for prizes.

“They’re just silly, goofy games that will entertain the kids while the adults are free to pay attention to the auction,” Mader said.

One of the most highly anticipated events of the weekend will be the raffle drawing, which will feature six prizes. First prize is a Ferris walk-behind mower valued at $7,500, second prize is a $2,000 e-bike, third prize is a $1,500 gift card to Charm Merchants, fourth prize is a large Big Green Egg Grill valued at $1,200, fifth prize is a Juki sewing machine valued at $1,000, and sixth prize is a Lake Erie walleye fishing charter for five valued at $500.

Tickets will be available throughout the two days until the drawing at noon Saturday. Tickets are $20 each, six for $100 or 40 for $500. Pre-event phone ticket purchases can be made by calling Leroy Yoder at 330-893-3479, Myron Miller at 330-763-1189, GentleBrook at 234-364-6616 or Holmes DD/Training Center at 330-674-8045.

The roots of the Holmes County Association for Handicapped Citizens go back to the early 1960s when children with developmental disabilities were excluded from public school services. Parents banded together, provided transportation and raised funds to pay the teachers so services could be provided.

Since then the Holmes County BDD has grown to include early intervention services, the school program, the adult day program, Lynn Hope Industries, Service and Support Administration, family support services, transportation, and residential supports.

The Holmes County Association for Handicapped Citizens' efforts have helped provide services including respite care for families caring for an adult or child with a developmental disability; transportation assistance to help families access medical care; therapies and HCBDD activities; Special Olympics support including equipment, supplies and traveling expenses; parent programs including the Mothers Club, the Down Syndrome Reunion, the Spina Bifida Reunion and others; and special disability-related equipment for school, adult programs or individuals.

“They’ve been an integral part of our efforts here for a long time,” Mader said. “We couldn’t operate without their support, and we greatly appreciate everything the association does.”

For more information and updates, visit HCAHC on Facebook. HCBDD is located at 8001 Township Road 574, south of Holmesville.