City leaders invite the public to weekend fundraiser
(Seguin) – “We take care of each other because We Can Do It…Together!,” That’s the invite from Seguin Mayor Donna Dodgen as she encourages residents to come out and show their support for District 2 Seguin City Councilman Sonia Mendez. Together with her family, the city has volunteered all efforts in planning this Saturday’s BBQ, raffle and silent auction fundraiser at the Seguin Coliseum.
Dodgen says all funds raised will go to help support Mendez who late this spring was diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Despite the debilitating illness, Dodgen says Mendez continues to serve her constituents and describes her as an amazing public servant.
“I think that we in the city try to help everyone, and I know the city employees really take care of their families and they really feel like council is one of their family. We wanted to do anything we could, and we wanted to do as much as we could so they all just took it on and ran with it and the rest of us just helped sure that up and did what we could to solicit volunteers and items and we personally, as council and an individuals gave things and so I think that’s how it came to be. It’s just a true way that we do things in Seguin. We help each other,” said Dodgen.
She says the city didn’t hesitate to jump on board with the planning. She says city employees wanted to do everything possible to help raise money.
“There are baked goods. There’s a raffle. There’s a silent auction. There’s a drive through. So, you can just drive through and pick something up. Any little bit helps. It’s kind of like a dollar from many people adds up to a lot. Well, we just need a bunch of people to do a little bit and we really can help her out a whole bunch and a lot covers the medical expenses and so just anything that you would like to do. Buy one raffle ticket. Come in and say hello. Come in and buy a baked good. Drive through and buy one meal. Take a meal to someone. Anything that you can do for encouragement and to help the cause would really truly be appreciated and it’s this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s a perfect time on a Saturday to come by, stop by and be a part of,” said Dodgen.
Also excited to be a part of the effort is Seguin City Manager Steve Parker. Parker says folks will especially not want to miss the delicious barbecue brisket and sausage that will be served that day by the city’s own talented Team Real BBQ.
“We do the lineman rodeo every year. Teams come over from all around the country to compete in lineman competitions for electric utility but there is always that BBQ cook-off at these events. So we’ve got this special group of guys that step up and when they do these things, they actually compete in the cook-off and then they have actually been able to step up and feed some of our employees during employee recognition week and so forth where we will cook burgers or pulled pork sandwiches or whatever it is and they do a phenomenal job and so they wanted to take their talents out and show the community what they can do. They helped last year with the Community Feast in cooking. They helped this year with this fundraiser, and they continue to do it out of the goodness of their hearts, and they are very talented. It’s going to be some good food,” said Parker.
Parker says simply put, there is no one more deserving than Mendez to receive all of this support. He says after serving the community so well, he believes it’s the community’s turn to return the favor.
“It’s been a real family type of environment. There’s been so much trust between the community and the city council and then the level of trust that the city council has with us. I mean there is just so much that goes into that. It increases a level of trust that prevents us from being very bureaucratic and it just saves the taxpayers so much money because we are able to get a lot of things done with fewer staff because we do not have to jump through a bunch of hoops. We have earned this trust and it’s because of the partnership that we have with our council and Sonia is one of the best examples of that trust and her servant leadership – if I had to describe it. That’s truly what these council members are and Sonia is a shining example of that because she just has that ability to make sure that she wants what is best for the citizens of Seguin and she has shown that from the first day on the council. That’s why I think city staff wanted to step up so quickly. It really is supporting our family and our leaders of this community because she would do it for us,” said Parker.
The fundraiser will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Seguin Coliseum.
Parker strongly advises that the $15 meal tickets be purchased in advance so they are able to get a better idea on the number of plates needed for Saturday and so that the cooking team will be prepared.
A silent auction and a series of raffles will also be conducted. Items being raffled include a guided fishing trip, guns, a 50-inch Smart TV, 4 tickets to a San Antonio Spurs home game, a Charcoal Grill & Smoker, a $500 Visa gift card plus more. Raffle tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100.
The fundraiser this weekend will also include a live performance by Ballet Folklórico De La Rosa, as well as DJ Millionaire.
Tickets for both BBQ plates and the raffle can be purchased during regular business hours at Seguin City Hall. Tickets are also available from any family member.