Benefit Auction Raises More Than $28,000 For Local Women’s Shelter

Oneida, TN (2011-08-08) The 16^th Annual Scott County Benefit Auction and Telethon held last weekend raised more than $28,000 for the local women’s shelter.

According to Auction and Telethon Committee Chairman Jerry Kline, the annual event garnered $28,610 for My Sister’s House, a Haven of Hope. The organization, formerly known as the Scott County Women’s Shelter, provides safe, temporary housing and other related services to battered and abused women and their dependent children.

Earlier this year, the shelter, which has had several “homes” over the course of its existence, broke ground on its new facility in Oneida. The building will provide a permanent home for the organization. The name of the new facility, “My Sister’s House”, was inspired by the real life tragedy of the children of Nancy Swain Watters, who was a victim of domestic violence. After the life alternating event, the four children, all girls, often found themselves running to their sister’s house(s) for comfort, guidance and support. The ladybug on the shelter’s new logo also reflects Nancy’s love of her children, as she often referred to them as “her ladybugs”.

Major contributors to this year’s auction and telethon were: First National Bank of Oneida and St. Mary’s Medical Center of Scott County. Affiliate sponsored included: Ameriprise Financial; Appalachian Habitat for Humanity; John Beaty, Scott County Attorney; Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board; Children’s Center of the Cumberlands Advisory Board; Circle of Life and Drs. John & Cathy Martin; Citizen’s First Bank; Dr. Nyla Cross, DDS; Danny’s Drugs; Ellis Family Dentistry & Dr. Spencer Ellis, DDS; First Trust & Savings Bank; a friend of the Scott County Women’s Shelter; Grace Primary Care; J&M Grading Division, LLC; Danny King Lumber; Lumber King; Marcum Excavating; Mark’s Family Pharmacy; Miller Energy Resources; Mountain People’s Health Council; Paul and Iva Phillips; Scott County Pharmacy, Scott County Pediatric Care and Dr. Evelyn Silver; Scott County Women’s Shelter Advisory Board; Dr. and Mrs. David Sexton; S.T.A.N.D.; Stansberry, Petroff, Marcum & Blakley; Taylor Holding, LLC; Tennessee Plateau Oncology and WBNT.

The “Big Board”, which listed the most valuable items offered for sale, was presented in memory of Bromma Pemberton Linville.

The Scott County Auction and Telethon benefits a host of other local charitable organizations, including the Children’s Center of the Cumberlands, Boys and Girls Club of Scott County, Scott County Rescue Squad, and Scott County Firefighters Association. The event is held yearly at the studios of Oneida Broadcasters, Inc., and seen and heard on Oneida Cable and Video Channel 4 and WBNT FM.