Eren Tataragasi

Richmond County Daily Journal

The staff of Fidelity Bank in Hamlet held a raffle this month in hopes of raising $1,000 for the Hamlet National Guard Unit’s Family Readiness Group and ended up exceeding everyone’s expectations.

By 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon they had raised more than $1,300 by selling the $1 tickets and six tickets for $5.

People who purchased the tickets were in the running for a recliner from Bobby’s Furniture, $100 in cash from Mabry’s Pharmacy and a Raiders jacket from Vector Shirts.

The winner of the recliner was Randy Roller, Nell Moody won the $100 and Pamela Hilton won the Raider jacket.

The money will be used to purchase special engraved coins for the unit.

“It’s something to keep them bonded after they go home,” said Ronda Jones, wife of Sgt. First Class Jason Jones.

The rest of the money could be used to help a family in need, but Jones said she hasn’t heard of one in the unit so the money will likely go toward a welcome home party for the soldiers and their families.

The unit is expected home in February and Jones is hoping to get the community to make ‘Welcome Home’ signs to place in yards and businesses to welcome them back.

n Staff writer Eren Tataragasi can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 19 or at etataragasi@yourdailyjournal.com.