Photos by Mary Alice Murphy
P.E.O. Purse Auction raises funds for a local scholarship 20161015
P.E.O. Purse Auction raises funds for a local scholarship 20161015
Karen Whitlock checks out a scarf on the silent auction table.
P.E.O. Purse Auction raises funds for a local scholarship 20161015
Prospective purse buyers check out the merchandise.
P.E.O. Purse Auction raises funds for a local scholarship 20161015
Danna Stout of Circle M Auctions gets read to be the auctioneer.
P.E.O. Purse Auction raises funds for a local scholarship 20161015
More ladies check out the purses.
P.E.O. Purse Auction raises funds for a local scholarship 20161015
Hands reach out for sandwiches, veggies, and plenty of goodies.
P.E.O. Purse Auction raises funds for a local scholarship 20161015
Nancy Champlin recognizes this year's scholarship winner, Esme Melendez.
P.E.O. Purse Auction raises funds for a local scholarship 20161015
Abby Moore holds up a purse for auction.
P.E.O. Purse Auction raises funds for a local scholarship 20161015
Melendez shows off a purse.
P.E.O. Purse Auction raises funds for a local scholarship 20161015
Stout says: "You know you really want this purse."
P.E.O. Purse Auction raises funds for a local scholarship 20161015
Amanda Pryor and Anna Dye also show off purses.
The P.E.O. Chapter BR managed the purse auction this year, with help from Chapter AG. The annual event raises funds for a local scholarship recipient of the Nancy Champlin Scholarship.
Champlin, former president of Chapter BR, announced this year's scholarship winner, Esme Melendez, who also showed purses to the women gathered to bid on purses as they came up for auction, along with another scholarship winner and two other young ladies, who modeled the purses. More than 80 purses were auctioned this year. A silent auction also offered items for bid, and a raffle offered gift certificates at sponsoring locales. A bargain room had purses for $5, $10 and $15 for those wanting a less competitive purchase.
Tables lined the hallway at the First Presbyterian Church and had plates full of tea sandwiches, veggies and dip, hummus and chips, various bowls of nuts and many sweet goodies to choose from.
Every chair was filled with women supporting the benefit.