EDGEMONT – The community turned out in an incredible outpouring of support for the family of beloved teacher Garland Wright, at a benefit on Saturday, February 15, held at the Edgemont School.
“I knew it would be something special,” said Angie Renwick, who organized the event. “For such a small town, and a lightly populated county, it is amazing how folks just always show up for each other.” She noted that people came from as far as Hermosa and Belle Fourche.
As of Sunday morning, the total donations had reached approximately $13,000, and Renwick said donations were still coming in that had not been added yet to the total. She said over 50 people and organizations had donated items for the silent auction, many of them handmade. She noted that Garland’s cousin, who lives in Massachusetts, made a cowboy-themed baby quilt to be auctioned off.
Randy Stevens offered a heartfelt tribute to Garland, and after a prayer and a moment of silence, the bingo commenced. Renwick said it seemed so fitting that such a display of love from the community would start with prayer, and that overall, the feeling was overwhelming, but also so typical of the spirit of the community of Edgemont.
She said the outpouring of donations was amazing, including over $1000 worth of goodies donated by the Crazy Horse Memorial. Handmade items from local artisans included stained glass, leather chaps, one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces, leather purses, and an antler lamp, all part of the silent auction. Businesses auctioned off mule deer hunts, gift cards, tools, baby gift baskets, a drone, and other specialty items.
Over 50 pounds of meat were donated by numerous local families for the free-will donation meal, and several local talented bakers created some unique and delicious desserts for all to enjoy with their meal.
Renwick said that the benefit was originally planned to be held at the Igloo Bar, but that it became apparent almost immediately that a much larger space would be needed, so the event moved to the Edgemont School cafeteria and gym. She said a group of local moms formed teams to tackle the various aspects of the event, such as food, bingo, and the silent auction. She said the event would have been impossible to pull off without the moms, and that communication was key to get everything handled efficiently and on time.
Kimberlee Smith Darrow of Edgemont created special commemorative tee-shirts, and she will continue to take orders for those, with the proceeds going to the family. Donations can also be made at Black Hills Federal Credit Union, as well as the Igloo Bar. Renwick said she will continue to take donations as long as people keep contributing.