Johnsonville and Hemingway mayors raise funds for local soldiers

HEMINGWAY— How is it that when two area politicians were thrown in jail they came out a few hours later with over $2,000 in their pockets?

It helps if the whole thing is for a good cause, they have a loud speaker and the jail has wheels.

Mayors Grady Richardson and Steve Dukes from Hemingway and Johnsonville willingly stepped behind bars Saturday to raise funds for area soldiers currently deployed in Afghanistan.

The jail, provided by the Omar Jail Birds Shrine unit, made tours around Hemingway and Johnsonville with the two mayors asking citizens to “bail them out” by making a donation to the troops.

“Donate to help our troops in Afghanistan,” the mayors blared over a load speaker as they stopped briefly on town streets and in parking lots of area business. “Bail us out of jail… or you can pay to keep us in!”

Diane Miller, president of the Family Readiness Group, FRG, with the local National Guard unit, organized the fundraiser as a way to cover shipping costs for care packages being sent local troops currently deployed in the Middle East.

“Monetary donations are greatly needed because we need to pay for the care packages shipped over seas,” Miller said. “And (the mayors) are instrumental in helping us.”

Dukes and Richardson were locked up at the National Guard Armory in Hemingway shortly after 9:00a.m. and by the time they returned from their trip around the Twin Cities they had collected $2,005.

The two mayors said they were happy to be locked up as a way of drumming up support for the local National Guard unit. Richardson, who previously served in the Navy, said letting the troops know they have support at home is important.

“I know how important it is for troops to receive packages from home,” Richardson said. “That’s why we’re here today. We’re here to raise money to be able to send our boys who are in Afghanistan some of the necessary supplies that we take for granted here every day.”

Mayor Dukes said that the fundraising efforts wouldn’t stop with Saturday’s event, but the citizens should be aware that continued support would be needed.

“There’ll probably be some other fundraisers in the future,” Dukes said. “Keep in mind that this group really needs your support, and we’re trying to help them any way we can.”

While returns from the March 13 event were positive, Miller said that even though fundraising efforts have gone well for National Guard units from Myrtle Beach and Georgetown, smaller communities like Johnsonville, Hemingway and Andrews are struggling for donations.

“Honestly, it’s going terrible,” she said. “Its harder to get donations for the smaller units. Me and one other unit are the only two smaller units and it’s working us.”

FRG is an organization that provides support for families of servicemen and women in a number of different capacities during a soldier’s deployment, including putting together care packages and assisting in matters involving unit family members during deployment.

Miller said the local chapter currently has a drop off point for donations set up at the town hall in Hemingway, asking citizens to donate items such as foodstuffs, household medical supplies, toiletries, socks, batteries, DVDs, games and more. Monetary donations are also being collected at both town halls in Hemingway and Johnsonville.

Members of the 178th Field Artillery Battalion deployed from local armories across the area Jan. 6 as part of continuing operations in conjunction with Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

The unit included over 600 soldiers, 93 from the Hemingway and Johnsonville area.

For more information on the fundraiser or on ways to further support the troops and their families, contact Diane Miller at 843-359-6585.