ORWIGSBURG — Hundreds turned out for the 15th Annual Block Party to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association on Saturday at Schaeffer’s Harley-Davidson.
The event featured a live auction with 22 items ranging from a signed Yuengling Lager wooden sign, a wooden clock and Philadelphia Flyers tickets, a Chinese raffle, which had 158 items, and a hot dog eating contest. Visitors also could meet sports players, Rhys Hoskins, a player for the Reading Fightin Phils, and Yancey Thigpen, a former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and other personalities and mascots. The theme of the event was sports.
Doug Naftzinger, Auburn, bid $410 for the Yuengling sign. He collects Yuengling memorabilia. He wanted a sign to add to his collection.
“It’s for a good benefit,” he said.
Susan Sematavage, 31, of Ashland, also had the winning bid on some items. She bought a very large stick of beef bologna for $65 and a wooden clock for $300. The clock is for her husband, Marlin Horan. They said the money they paid for the donated items is well worth it because it goes to a good cause.
Kim Melnick, an employee of the store, said the goal for MDA is $290,000. So far, $194,926.23 has been raised before the event. A tally was not available from the event. Melnick said a total would be available this week before the Ride for Life event held at the Camelback Resort in the Poconos. It is not too late to donate to the cause.
“We take donations throughout the entire year,” Melnick said.
The goal of $250,000 was surpassed last year by $29,000, she said.
Thigpen had two reasons to be there Saturday. He was signing autographs for free but asked for a contribution to MDA. He was also there to get his 2016 Road Glide Special twin-cam 103 high output engine. He had is customized at the store. Thigpen also signed the sign that Naftzinger bought.
Carol Schaeffer, co-owner of Schaeffer’s, estimated 500 people attended the event.
“We are glad for the community support,” she said.