YMCA Holiday Festival set for Saturday

The lobby of the Osage Prairie YMCA is decorated in preparation for the annual holiday festival to be conducted in the facility's gymnasium at 5 p.m, Saturday. On display are some of the items that will be auctioned off during the fund-raiser including MU and KU memorabilia, tickets to the Chiefs/Broncos game and other events and electronic items such as an iPod. Jewelry items, home decor items and more also will be auctioned Funds raised through the event pay for the Strong Kids Campaign, a program to help people with program fees and membership fees when financial issues would otherwise prevent their participation. Admission is $5. For more information about the Osage Prairie YMCA or its program, call (417) 667-9622. --Steve Moyer/Daily Mail

The Osage Prairie YMCA is preparing for its annual Strong Kids campaign and holiday festival Saturday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m., in the gymnasium at the facility, 500

W. Highland, Nevada. The gym will be closed Friday and Saturday for the event.

Matt Schneringer, YMCA director, said he was excited about the event.

"It should be great," Schneringer said. "Heartland Hospital is doing the catering and they're good. They're what we've always used."

Schneringer said he expected a good turnout and pointed out this year's festival has something new -- child care.

"I think we'll have around 150 people this year," Schneringer said. "We've got child care for the first time, I think people will really appreciate it."

According to Schneringer there will be good music to go along with the good food.

"Scott Theis will be singing," Schneringer said. "He will be performing traditional holiday music and might have a little something else as well."

The auction is always looked forward to, Schneringer said, and this year there are about 150 items, of many different kinds.

"We've got MU/KU football tickets, Harlem Globetrotter tickets, tickets to the Kansas City Chiefs/Denver Broncos game -- with a red parking pass, and we have paintings, jewelry and some electronic items like an iPod," Schneringer said.

The money raised from the auction helps to assist those who can't pay for the YMCA's services, no one is turned away because of the inability to pay.