The Alexander City Outlook

Camp needs more rain barrel bids

Those visiting businesses in the Lake Martin area may have noticed some colorful new décor at a number of storefront entrances this week.

A dozen rain barrels, all painted by campers at Alabama’s Special Camp for Children and Adults, are now on display in the area and will be auctioned off to the highest bidders to raise money for Camp ASCCA’s Campership Fund.

Organizer Denise Walls said the auction started this week and will continue through Aug. 7, when the barrels will be awarded to their highest bidders at the Downtown Farmer’s Market on Broadnax Street in Alexander City.

“Hopefully we’ll get more bids soon,” Walls said. “We’ve only gotten one bid so far and (the rain barrels) have been out a week now.”

Walls, coordinator of The Middle Tallapoosa River Basin Clean Water Partnership, organized the rain barrel workshop at Camp ASCCA July 7 when campers painted the barrels with the assistance of local artists.

She said the rain barrels are an easy and decorative way to conserve water.

“You can put it under the eave of the your roof to collect rain water,” she said. “It’s an easy way to conserve water and an easy way to be green.”

Walls said each of the 12 barrels is located at a different business in the Lake Martin area. There are five in downtown Alexander City, with two at The Shoppes of Queen’s Attic, one at Carlisle Drugs, one at the RSVP office, and one at McDavid & Co. Barrels can also be found in Alexander City at Aliant Bank, the Russell Do-It Center, Dark Insurance, and in Dadeville at Pearson’s Flower Shop, The Red Door, Niffer’s and Floyd’s Feed and Seed.

Camp ASCCA provides camping experiences for children and adults with disabilities and the Camp ASCCA Campership Fund provides financial assistance to campers who cannot afford the full cost of the camp.

“We hope to get at least $50 per barrel,” Walls said. “If we get $50 for each it would be $600, which is the cost of a week of camp for one camper.”

To place a bid on a barrel, visit the Middle Tallapoosa River Basin Clean Water Partnership Facebook page and go to their photo album titled “Rain Barrel Auction to Raise Money for Camp ASCCA.” Then, write a comment under the picture of the barrel you want stating the amount you want to bid.

Walls said interested individuals who do not have a Facebook account can call her at (256) 839-5340 and she will place the bid for them.