Community expo set help VFW, Trump campaign
Published 11:47 am Monday, August 22, 2016
As the political season gets into full swing, local Republicans are looking to provide support for presidential and vice presidential nominees Donald Trump and Mike Pence – along with the community.
The Donald J. Trump for President Carter County branch, led by co-chairwomen Amy Simmons and Lora Owens, is hosting the second ‘Trump for Vets’ event on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the VFW Post 2166 office in Elizabethton from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
October’s event will be the second installment of a ‘Trump for Vets’ after rousing success at the first-ever event, Simmons said.
“We had a lot of success during our last event in February,” Simmons said. “We were able to help raise funds for the VFW post.”
Free food and entertainment will be available throughout the event, Simmons said, including a rendition of “The Trump Song” from an artist in Nashville. While the event has the same idea in mind from the previous endeavor, an addition this go around will be the inclusion of a community expo.
“We want to do want we can to help spotlight our local businesses,” Simmons said. “Lora and I are both small business owners and we were surprised walking through downtown and seeing all the businesses that we didn’t even really know about. We thought this was the best way to make the event more community driven.”
Community business booths are currently available for $10 with all the proceeds going back into the VFW.
“We encourage each small business to come out during the expo,” Simmons said. “It is the perfect opportunity for a business to be highlighted.”
Along with the funds for the VFW, the Donald J. Trump branch will also raise funds for the nominee’s state group by selling bricks to attendees.
“Trump has been very vocal about security,” Trump said. “We thought it would be a great idea for people to stop by and buy a brick for $1. Whoever buys the brick can put their name on it and help us build our wall that will be on display for the event. The money raised from the wall will go back into the Donald Trump campaign.”
Simmons also encouraged individuals to wear their ‘patriotic best’ for the “Miss America the Beautiful” pageant, open for all age groups. The entry fee for the pageant is $10 with the funds also going back into the VFW.
For more information, citizens can contact Simmons via email at ddreams2000@aol.com or by phone at 540-392-9138. Owens can be reach by email at loraowens_era@yahoo.com or call 423-677-6606.