During National Crimes Victims’ Rights Week, the Empowerment Committee at SCI Mercer held a silent auction and a sub fundraiser, and it hosted a speaking engagement with several speakers.
“Showcasing Our Talented Staff” was a silent auction fundraiser that featured items that were made by Mercer employees. Items ranged from body scrubs and lotions made from honey, hand-painted fishing lures and jig heads, a metal-cut rustic flag and nature photos to a quilt, crotched baby blankets, wooden bottle openers and a stove cover/noodle board. In all, 19 items were donated. Pictures were displayed on the wall in the staff hallway all week, and the actual items were on display several times throughout the week. Staff interested in bidding on an item(s) were given bid number, and updated bids were emailed daily. Staff members were notified if they were out-bid so they could have an opportunity to place another bid on the item.
On April 26, subs from the recent sub sale were available in staff dining. Along with the subs, the Empowerment Committee set up a lemonade stand to provide fresh squeezed lemonade to all staff.
Between the various fundraisers, Mercer was able to give $837.70 to Project Restore in Greenville.
In addition to the fundraisers, three victim speakers shared their traumatic and heartbreaking stories to staff members on April 27. These very tragic personal accounts of what happened to them, along with the pain and suffering that occurred afterward, left many speechless. Forty-seven employees attended the event.