Atwood Chamber of Commerce Sponsoring Vendor Day, in conjunction with Blood Drive
By Doris Elmore
Staff Writer
Events all over have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but several “small events” have been held just to give people a taste of fair food or a small amount of normalcy. The Atwood Chamber of Commerce would like to give Atwood area residents that same courtesy with a Blood Drive/Vendor Day on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (The blood drive only will close at 1 p.m.
The Atwood Community Blood Drive is held during the Apple Dumpling Festival each year, and this year will be no exception. There may not be an Apple Dumpling Festival, but this blood drive is held in awareness of Kawasaki Disease. This was started by Jami Bowles after her daughter Mackenzi had the disease when she was very young. She was released from the hospital on Easter Sunday, her 2nd birthday, in 2005.
The bloodmobile will be located at 108 S. Main St. All donors must have an appointment! To donate, call Mackenzi at 480-6119, Jami Bowles, 840-3149, or visit www.bloodcenter.org (using group code 71038). You may also donate at Urbana or Mattoon locations using same group code.
Please eat before donating and bring Photo ID and last date you donated elsewhere was 6/27/20. All donors will receive a voucher for a $10 gift card. Start your day on Aug. 22 by donating blood for Kawasaki Disease. You will need a mask for the blood drive.
Also beginning at 9 am. will be Vendor Day, downtown Atwood. This is Saturday only. Vendors are invited to set up a table (social distancing of course) There will be several specialty vendors in addition to the store’s downtown being open and ready to welcome you back. Please have a mask available if you are asked to wear a mask inside a store or at a vendor table.
The chamber is also inviting anyone who has excess garden produce to set up a table. There will be no charge to set up a table and you keep the proceeds. If you would like to make a donation to the chamber for their events, it would be appreciated.
One of the highlights of the day will be Pig Out Concessions of Maroa. They will be open Friday evening for a while and from 9-3 on Saturday. A small taste of some of their specialties includes: corn dogs, fresh ground hamburgers (various sizes), horseshoes, steak sandwiches, giant tenderloins, gyros, Buffalo/crispy chicken sandwich, taco salad, walking taco, Nachos, French, taco and cheese fries, variety of shake-ups and assorted beverages.
If you would like to set up as a vendor, please contact Cindy Cordts, 369-9532. A few picnic tables will be provided downtown, but bring your own chair if you think you will need one. Please practice CDC guidelines, but join in a little fun, if only for a few hours.
