The Poke Salad Festival gets underway in Blanchard this weekend...and some local folks have a big mission there this year -- to raise money for a friend of theirs who's in need of a kidney transplant. Jayne Tappe is one of the organizers, and she says the fundraiser is being called A "Chair-ity" Event...because different-themed, decorated chairs will be auctioned off that day. A live auction will also be held between music performances on the big stage immediately following the parade Saturday, with various donated items up for grabs. Tappe says proceeds from the Saturday auctions go into 49-year-old Robert Gipson's account at the National Foundation for Transplants. If you can't make it to the festival, you can visit NFT's website to make a donation there.

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