By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–There were smiles all around as representatives of the 77 organizations that received funds from the Henry County Helping Hand Radio Auction gathered Monday evening to receive their checks.
A total of $492,400 was handed out to the non-profit organizations representing various categories: public safety, health and well being, education, alleviation of poverty, historical preservation, cultural development and recreation.
The funds are raised in January and February of each year with a marathon radio (and now streaming) auction in which community organizations come together.
The 2025 Top Ten Donor Organizations this year were:
First United Methodist Church, $34,943
First Baptist Church, $32,280
Security Bank & Trust, $18,668
Tennessee Valley Community Church, $17,678
Pleasant Hill Community, $15,167
Cottage Grove Community, $14,581
Center Community, $13,792
Buchanan Community, $12,176
Central Point Community, $11,483
Holy Cross Catholic Church, $10,823
Five board of directors members are departing the board: Mary Kate Paschall, Vicky Sinclair, Caroline Dunn, Rob Whitfield, Maurie Ann Mitchell.
Upon recommendation of the board, the membership approved the following people to fill their seats: Bettye Carter, Chip McLean, Jim McCampbell, Teri Edwards and Tim Sanders.
Helping Hand President David Flowers noted the “very important contribution” from Dr. Patty Smith that came in at the end of this year’s auction—totally $500,000. He said those funds have not been distributed yet and the board is still pondering what is best. “We possibly will create an endowment with the funds,” he said. “That way we can stretch the money out as long as we can.”
Flowers noted that Dr. Smith obtained her education degree in Iowa and taught English on a military base in Germany before she was promoted to principal of the school. After she retired in 1999, she moved to Henry Co., living in the Central Point community and was a faithful supporter of Helping Hand. She passed away in November 2024.
Reports were presented by Treasurer Caroline Dunn and Secretary Allie Harper.
Flowers thanked everyone for their attendance. “Thank you for making this organization as wonderful as it is.”
Ranking Henry County Helping Hand Auction 2025
Total Funds Raised by Community/Organization
N/A Community: Paris $109,374.00
1 Church: First United Methodist $34,943.00
2 Church: First Baptist $32,280.00
3 Bank: Security Bank & Trust Co $18,668.00
4 Church: Tennessee Valley Community $17,678.00
5 Community: Pleasant Hill $15,167.00
6 Community: Cottage Grove $14,581.00
7 Community: Center $13,792.00
8 Community: Buchanan $12,176.00
9 Community: Central Point $11,483.00
10 Church: Holy Cross Catholic $10,823.00
11 West TN Healthcare / Henry Co Hospital $9,331.00
12 Community: Whitlock $8,785.00
13 Church: First Christian $8,587.00
14 Paris Lions Club $8,476.00
15 Educators $8,283.00
16 Church: Springhill Baptist $7,070.00
17 Church: Bridge of Hope $6,817.00
18 Community: Puryear $6,377.00
19 Lakeway Village $5,106.00
20 Paris Rotary Club $4,827.00
21 Community: Springville $4,800.00
22 Community: Osage/ Airport $4,462.00
23 Church: Grace Life $4,085.00
24 Bank: Commercial Bank & Trust Co $3,516.00
25 Paris Elks Lodge $3,410.00
26 Community: Paris Landing & Resort Areas $3,347.00
27 Church: Sulphur Well Church of Christ $3,227.00
28 Church: Maplewood Baptist $3,201.00
29 Lakeway Kiwanis $3,153.00
30 Community: Mansfield $2,995.00
31 Tomorrow’s Hope $2,597.00
32 Community: Clifty / Clifty Village $2,566.00
33 Paris Board of Public Utilities $2,528.00
34 Community: Jones Mill/ HICO $2,407.00
35 Mary’s Kids $2,369.00
36 World’s Biggest Fish Fry $2,252.00
37 Henry Co Junior Livestock $2,164.00
38 Community: Elkhorn $2,007.00
39 L.I. Smith & Associates $2,006.00
40 Church: Trinity United Methodist $1,953.00
41 Peppers Automotive Group $1,907.00
42 Real Hope Youth Center $1,893.00
43 4-H Clubs of Henry County $1,873.00
44 Mineral Wells Animal Clinic $1,857.00
45 Historic Atkins-Porter Neighborhood Assoc $1,794.00
46 HCHS Baseball Boosters $1,741.00
47 Henry Co Heritage Center $1,716.00
48 Community: Country Club Estates/ Nelson/ Shady Grove $1,648.00
49 TN Valley Board of Realtors $1,648.00
50 Joe Mahan Ford $1,631.00
51 Easton’s Angels $1,482.00
52 Church: Fairview Baptist $1,442.00
53 Bank: First Bank $1,344.00
54 Community: Sunnyside $1,342.00
55 W.G. Rhea Library $1,336.00
56 Henry Co Masonics / OES Martha Chap $1,314.00
57 Community: Como $1,309.00
58 Bank: Carroll Bank & Trust Co $1,301.00
59 Covenant Ranch $1,287.00
60 QUOTA $1,287.00
61 VFW Post 1889 & Ladies Aux $1,264.00
62 Community: Henry/ Bunns $1,191.00
63 Habitat for Humanity $1,167.00
64 Northwest Nutrition / Office on Aging $1,123.00
65 Church: New Harmony Baptist $1,122.00
66 PLUS $1,118.00
67 Future Farmers of America $1,095.00
68 Church: Point Pleasant Baptist $1,077.00
69 HCHS Madrigals Boosters $1,061.00
70 Project Bridge $1,056.00
71 HCHS Lady Patriots Soccer $1,048.00
72 Friends of TN Wildlife Refuge $1,031.00
73 Church: Quinn Chapel $1,000.00
74 Henry Co Employees $991.00
75 Henry Co Archives $956.00
76 Paris Henry Co Arts Council $934.00
77 Church: Christ Lutheran $930.00
78 Darkhorse Lodge $896.00
79 Church: Grace Episcopal $862.00
80 Paris Academy for the Arts $855.00
81 Lakewood Beta Club $827.00
82 Henry Co CASA $805.00
83 Paris Surgical Specialists $796.00
84 Community: India $792.00
85 Interrail Signal $790.00
86 Henry Co Fair Association $784.00
87 Salvation Army $778.00
88 Henry Co Cemetery Com $777.00
89 Kroger $753.00
90 Church: First Presbyterian $746.00
91 HCHS Cross Country & Track $744.00
92 Community: New Boston $737.00
93 Paris City Employees $705.00
94 Walmart Supercenter $668.00
95 Henry Co Chamber Music Society $666.00
96 Carl Perkins Center $656.00
97 Inman Beta Club $655.00
98 HCHS Band Boosters/ Colorguard $647.00
99 T.A.R.P. Center for Independent Living $644.00
100 Party Bounce & Jump $621.00
101 Henry Volunteer Fire Dept. $613.00
102 Senior Citizens Center $604.00
103 Inman Band $591.00
104 Child Evangelism Fellowship of NWTN $589.00
105 White & Assoc, Wimberly Agencies $574.00
106 Church: Latter Day Saints $567.00
107 American Legion Post 89 $558.00
108 Dyersburg State Community College $535.00
109 Henry Co Geneological Society $527.00
110 Bank: Regions Bank $500.00
111 Bank: Foundation Bank $491.00
112 Church: Seventh Day Adventist $489.00
113 GLO $488.00
114 Community: Chapel Hill / Guthrie Road $478.00
115 Downtown Paris Assoc $478.00
116 TN Valley High Bass Club $461.00
117 731 Freeze Dried Goods $453.00
118 HCHS Basketball Boosters $432.00
119 Community: Van Dyke / Routon $414.00
120 Harrelson Beta Club $409.00
121 TCAT $408.00
122 Carey Counseling $400.00
123 Literacy Council $371.00
124 Rescue Squad $361.00
125 Jolly Women’s Club, The $351.00
126 CHHAMPS $340.00
127 Young Farmers & Ranchers $337.00
128 New Wave Buddy Ball $330.00
129 American Heritage Girls $319.00
130 HCHS Boys Soccer PAC $309.00
131 East Wood Clinic $301.00
132 Church: Paris First United Pentecostal (Tower of Praise) $299.00
133 Master Gardeners $283.00
134 HCHS Fishing Team Boosters $275.00
135 Relay for Life $275.00
136 Henry Co Girl Scouts $271.00
137 Project HELP $271.00
138 AMVETS Post 45 $262.00
139 Thriving at Home Senior Care $258.00
140 West TN Bone & Joint Clinic $255.00
141 Henry Co Historical Society $247.00
142 Air Evac $205.00
143 Community: Oakland $198.00
144 Henry Co Prevention Coalition $183.00
145 AHC Healthcare of Paris $170.00
146 Community: Countrywood Estates $160.00
147 Doghouse Rescue $158.00
148 Community: Scenic Hills/ Castleton Cove $143.00
149 R.E.L. Asphalt Sealcoating $138.00
150 Church: Johnson Chapel $130.00
151 HCHS Swim Team Boosters $125.00
152 Moose Lodge Chap 1739 19115 $115.00
153 Henry Co No Fly Zone $103.00
154 Civil Air Patrol $77.00
155 Charter Senior Living $75.00
156 Henry Co Saddle Club $47.00
157 HC Speech Team $38.00
158 WRAP $10.00
N/A Misc $41.00
TOTAL $509,079.00
Photo: Helping Hand President David Flowers hands a check to Jean Peterson, representing the Genealogy Society.