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Mouse races draw large crowd
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The Children's Center hosted their fourth annual mouse race fundraiser Saturday at the Elk's Lodge No. 564.
"It truly was fantastic and people had a great time," child advocate and site coordinator Amy Kaelke said. "It was our biggest and best year with the best turnout ever."
A capacity crowd in the hundreds turned out Saturday night for an evening of mouse racing, mouse roulette, dinner, and a silent and live auction.
The crowd cheered on mice named Slumlord Not So Millionaire, Kit E. Snacks, Filet Meow, and Big Daddy Ratty. Twelve heat races led up to the championship race between Crash, Alecia, Overspray, Fueled by Bacon, Bam Bam, and Johnnie Hot-to-Trot.
In between mouse races, the crowd could play mouse roulette. Pick a number and if the mouse exited the slowly spinning wheel on your number, you won.
"Everyone is really willing to spend money because it all goes to the kids," attendee Terry Logan said.
The mouse races were organized and run by John Dold and Wheeling n' Dealing Casino Parties from Kansas City.
Jeani and Kent Longstreth and their crew cooked a fabulous barbecue dinner. If that wasn't enough, there was a cookie bar and hors d'oeuvers were served later in the evening.
Live auction items were varied and included a hand crafted wooden bowl that sold for more than $500 and a quilt made by Helen Dahmer that sold for $800.
The not-for-profit Children's Center in Nevada serves the four county, 28th Circuit Court and provides services to approximately 100 children each year.
"We see kids where there are allegations of physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or have witnessed a crime," Kaelke said. "The kids are not re-traumatized by having to go to multiple places -- the hospital, children's division, the juvenile office -- a multi-disciplinary team interviews the child."
Kaelke said the Children's Center's mission is to reduce the trauma suffered by victims of abuse. The Children's Center operates on donations and receives no direct funding from the state or federal government.
In addition to monetary donations, the Children's Center accepts gas cards for parents, toilet paper, paper towels, hand soap, cleaning and laundry supplies. Donations are tax deductible.
According to the Children's Center website at http://www.childrens-center.org/, they have served more than 11,000 children in 12 counties in southwest Missouri since opening in 1997. Children's Center locations include Joplin, Nevada, Butler, and Monett.
The Nevada Children's Center is located at 324 Mac Boulevard and can be reached at 417-549-0900.