Following a tradition of two decades of giving, the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church Country Fare is donating $7,500.00 to local organizations. The annual event, held the weekend after Labor Day in the Parish Hall of the Hayesville church, sells clothing, household items, and assorted treasures at flea market prices to help community shoppers. Then the church turns over the entire proceeds to charities in Clay, Cherokee, Towns and Union counties.

The twelve organizations that benefit from the $7,500.00 donation are as follows: Clay County Food Pantry, Towns County Food Pantry, Hurlburt Johnson Friendship House, Clay County Hands of Hope/CIS, Towns County Family Connection, REACH Clay County, SAFE Towns/Union Counties, Samaritan's Promise, HAVEN, Clay County Hearts for Kids, Logan's Run, and St. Vincent DePaul. All leftover merchandise from the Country Fare was given to SAFE, and vouchers were donated to area foster children.

The tradition of helping in the community reflects the mission statement of Good Shepherd: “Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the people of Good Shepherd are called to joyfully reveal God's love and Christ's healing light to all.” Church members Paul and Pat Jordan, who chaired the Country Fare, say that over 120 volunteers worked to put this mission statement into practice.

The Jordans also want to thank Jake Davies for allowing the use of his lot for parking, and Dr. Rob Peck at Advanced Spinal Corrections, for donating gift certificates for his massage bed.