Published: June 24, 2009 04:23 pm      

Saints and Sinners plan fund raiser for July 25

Members of Saints and Sinners of Moss Lake hope to get in touch with their red neck roots — or in some cases have fun pretending —when the organization holds its summer fund raiser next month.

Like last year’s Red Nek Olympnics, the Red Nek Kick-it-Up is a fundraiser for the organization which is made up of advocates for county residents who have fallen on difficult times.

The fundraiser is set for July 25 on the Sunset Rendezvous overlooking Moss Lake.

It includes all-you-can-eat fried fish and music from Billy Joe Howard and Willy Kick-it.

Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased at the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce or by calling (940) 612-2377.

Howard is set to start his country and blues performance around 6:30 p.m.

A portion of the proceeds from this year’s fundraiser are earmarked to help volunteer fire departments.

Born of the desire to help a young woman who was severely injured in a car accident, Saints and Sinners is a 501c3 organization formed in the Moss Lake-Sivells Bend area approximately four years ago. The group raises and spends its money in Cooke County.

Frank Mahnich, a charter member of the organization, said it is also important to note that none of the funds raised by Saints and Sinners are used for administrative costs such as salaries for workers.

Everyone who gives time or money to the organization should be aware that the money goes to help others in need, he said.

“There are zero administrative fees. This organization is 100 percent volunteer,” said board member Lee Warder.

Saints and Sinners members have assisted accident victims, people too ill to drive themselves to the Metroplex for medical treatments and many others in need.

The group also supports other service agencies such as volunteer fire departments.

Half of the proceeds from last year’s Red Nek Olympnics went to volunteer fire fighters, Mahnich noted.

Saints and Sinners members do good works, but they do them quietly.

“There’s a lot of little things that we do, but we don’t publicize a lot of it,” Mahnich said.

They may be quiet about their good works, but the group has a proven record when it comes to fund raising.

For instance, when Saints and Sinners set out to help the young woman injured in the car wreck, the group raised over $30,000 in six weeks, he noted.

Last fall, members of the organization decided to create two scholarships for local students.

“This is something we plan to continue doing,” Mahnich said. “As we do more events, there is the possibility that we can expand that (the scholarship program).”

Saints and Sinners is a comprised of a cross section of people from the Moss Lake-Sivells Bend area. The organization’s board of directors is made up of professionals from various backgrounds, he said.

“We have company presidents, business owners, college administrators and three accountants on our board,” Mahnich said.

Saints and Sinners has assisted individuals and families from all over Cooke County including the Gainesville, Lindsay and Muenster areas.

The group also works with VISTO (Volunteers in Service to Others) to facilitate the Back Pack Buddy food assistance program for Sivells Bend school children.

Other Saints and Sinners initiatives include providing Christmas baskets for staff members of local nursing homes.

“There are programs to help the residents of nursing homes, but there was really nothing for the staff members who work in the homes,” Mahnich said. “We wanted to do something for them.”

Most of all, Mahnich said Saints and Sinners was formed to help people who are victims of circumstance through no fault of their own.

“It’s just a good organization,” he said.

For information on Saints and Sinners programs or to find out how to help call 612-2377.