Published: June 19, 2008 01:04 pm            

Awaiting Transformation

A couple new attractions have been added to the 38th annual Sacred Heart Picnic this year.

A live auction will be held on church grounds at 3 p.m. Saturday and will feature some interesting items to raise money for Sacred Heart Grade School, including a guided, one-day quail hunting trip with an experienced hunter and his hunting dogs.

Other items up for auction include a Nintendo Wii game system, Holiday World tickets, a laptop computer, Cardinals baseball tickets, bicycles, a handmade cedar chest, My American Girl doll, St. Louis Rams football tickets, a home theater system and Sirius satellite radio.

Another new event will be a flea market preview from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday.

“It costs a dollar to get in on Friday for the early shoppers. A lot of people want to get there early before it’s all picked over. We’ve got so much stuff this year. It just keeps coming in,” said Cheryl Kroeger, who is organizing the flea market.

“We have a lot of kitchen items, exercise equipment, whole series of books, gas grills, lots of glassware and dishes, the twin sheets that kids need for college dorm beds, lots of candles and more,” she said.

The flea market will be held inside the school’s gymnasium this year. Admission on Saturday and Sunday will be free.

Sacred Heart also will be holding its big picnic raffle, with more than $25,000 in cash and prizes. The grand prize will be a choice between a 2008 Chevrolet vehicle, a camper or $15,000 in cash. Tickets are $10 each or six for $50.

The picnic activities will be located on the south end of the church and school grounds. Outdoor activities are scheduled from 5 p.m. to midnight Saturday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday.

A dinner featuring fried chicken, ham, homemade noodles and all the trimmings will be served from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Parish Center. Cost is $7 for adults and $3 for children under 12. Tickets will be sold at the door only.

Sacred Heart parishioners are asked to bring donated items and baked goods to the front lobby of the school on Saturday or Sunday morning.

Angie Faller can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or angie.faller@

effinghamdailynews.com.