By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
One hundred people in a room, each giving $100 four times a year. That's at least $10,000 handed out to area non-profits each quarter. Earlier this month, the 100+ People Who Care Barton County gave the Barton County Fair an early Christmas present with this quarter's donation. Fair Association Executive Board Member Troy Miller called it a blessing.
"It was exciting and it was wonderful," he said. "We weren't expecting it right away. I know it brought tears to some of the people's eyes on the board because we're all volunteers and we all work very hard to keep the fair going and keep it alive."
The Barton County Fair Board already owned and leased the Expo III building. In June, the Great Bend City Council authorized the board to lease Expo I and II. Miller said the $10,000 will likely be used to purchase tables and chairs to be used in the buildings.
"We're constantly trying to rent the buildings, and the tables and chairs will help create income," he said. "It will also help during the fair. We spend about $1,800 every year renting tables and chairs. This is just a huge blessing."
Julie Mazouch helped create the 100+ People Who Care Barton County group in 2017. The group selects a different non-profit to support each quarter and has now given away nearly a quarter of a million dollars.