When the parishioners of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church Hayesville gathered in their parish hall on May 16 for the second annual Parade of Tables and Silent Auction, they raised over $6,000 to allocate to organizations in Clay, Cherokee, Towns, and Union counties. The event typified Good Shepherd's way of combining community outreach with a good time.

The Parade of Tables is an array of round tables set for eight people each, decorated in a specific theme. This year the decorations focused on an ecological theme, and the winning table was “Save the Bees,” designed by two talented Hayesville women, Peggy Epton and Wendy Walker. Every detail at the table, down to the ribbons wrapped around jars of honey, had a bee motif. The first runner-up table was “Greening and Recycling,” and the second runner-up was “Global Warming.”

The Silent Auction is a diverse offering of useful and attractive items donated by parishioners and by community businesses, which are then bid on by written bids. Deacon Turner Guidry had urged church members, “Don't look for bargains. Bid high. All the money will go to good causes.” Items given by parishioners ranged from handmade beeswax candles to fishing reels, furniture, china, and art pieces.

Contributors from the community were also generous, including Dr. Rob Peck of Advanced Spinal Correction, who gave a full chiropractic workup including x-rays and first visit; Bacchus Wines of Hiawassee; Kim's Korner of Young Harris; Firestone Tires and Silver Shears Salon and Spa, both in Hayesville; therapist Benita Esposito of Hiawassee, Appalachian Memories of Andrews; Rountree's Furniture of Blairsville; Back Creek Pottery of Murphy; and Froh's Custom Woodworking.

According to Parade of Tables chairperson Pat Jordan, all the proceeds from the $20 tickets for dinner to the profits from the auction items will go to local organizations that depend upon donations to do their work.

Good Shepherd parishioners like to eat and socialize, but they remain mindful that others in the
area are not so blessed.