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Blanket raffle to benefit Taylor scholarship
The Veterans from Foreign Wars Post No. 1165 is hosting a raffle to support a scholarship created in the memory of John Taylor.
Two fleece blankets will be raffled off on Veteran's Day to raise money for a scholarship at Fort Scott Community College which was set up by Kelly Garrison in honor of Taylor who served as a mentor to many people in the community.
"John made a real impact on me," Garrison said. "He was a good friend, I looked at him as a mentor."
Garrison's relationship with Taylor grew when Taylor would visit 5 Corners Mini Mart. During a time when Garrison was struggling to maintain work and family on top of school, Taylor was there to support him to complete his education.
"There were times I wanted to give up and he wouldn't let me," Garrison said.
Following Taylor's death at the age of 53 last December after a lengthy battle with cancer, Garrison contacted FSCC to set up a scholarship in Taylor's memory. The scholarship will be available to Bourbon County residents with a 2.0 grade point average and are wanting to study criminal justice.
Garrison has been contributing $300 each semester but needs to contribute $10,000 to sustain the scholarship. He said the goal is to raise $1,100 toward the scholarship through the raffle.
Tickets for the raffle are $1 each or $5 for six tickets. The are available at the V.F.W., 1745 S. National Ave., and will soon be available at 5 Corners Mini Mart, 1122 S. Clark St. Garrison said tickets will also be available for purchase at the Ropin' & Rockin' for Pennies for the Park event on Saturday at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds.
The blankets will be raffled off separately during the V.F.W.'s chicken and noodle dinner from 5-7 p.m., Nov. 11 at the V.F.W. Post 1165.