Two Gulf Coast charity events are set for mid-October — one raising money for rescue dogs along the Florida Panhandle, the other funding Christmas gifts for Orange Beach children.
Save Underdogs Charity Golf Tournament — Oct. 19
Save Underdogs LLC, a non-profit dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming abandoned, surrendered and abused dogs along the Florida Panhandle, will host its 10th Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Monday, Oct. 19, at Perdido Bay Golf Club in Pensacola.
The entry fee is $125 per player, which covers a pre-tournament breakfast, green fees, a golf cart, two mulligans and food and beverages throughout the course.
The tournament is open to players 21 years and older and is capped at 30 teams. The winning team’s name will be engraved on the official tournament winner plaque on display at the Perdido Key Sports Bar & Restaurant.
Registration, sponsorship information and raffle tickets are available.
Where the Money Goes
Save Underdogs is a volunteer-led rescue group dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and placing abandoned, surrendered and abused dogs in safe, permanent homes across the Florida Panhandle. Since 2004, 8,300 dogs have been rescued through its network of volunteers.
Proceeds directly fund medical care, shelter and re-homing efforts for local dogs in need.
That breakdown reflects where rescue costs actually accumulate. Intake veterinary work — vaccination, spay or neuter, heartworm testing and treatment, and care for injuries or chronic conditions — represents the largest single expense for most volunteer rescue organizations, and it is incurred before an animal is placed. A foster-based group without a paid staff or a facility still faces those bills for every dog it takes in.
A 30-team cap at $125 per player sets a defined ceiling on entry revenue, which is why tournaments of this type lean heavily on hole sponsorships and raffles. Those are usually where the bulk of the proceeds come from.
Big Community Yard & Craft Sale — Oct. 17
The Orange Beach Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary is planning a “Big Community Yard & Craft Sale” to benefit its annual Christmas for Orange Beach Boys & Girls program on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Orange Beach Community Center, 27235 Canal Rd.
Doors open promptly at 7 a.m. and the event runs until noon. All vendor spaces are inside, so the weather outside does not matter.
Renting a Space
Spaces are available for rent at $30. To reserve a space, call 251-747-5767 or stop by Orange Beach City Hall, 4099 Orange Beach Blvd., to pick up an application.
Spaces are rented to individual sellers, ensuring that a wide variety of items are available. Light breakfast and coffee will be available.
Donating Items
Residents can take part by attending, donating items to sell, or both. Items may be delivered to the Orange Beach Community Center on Friday, Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Ladies Auxiliary prefers not to take adult clothing items or shoes, but gently used children’s clothing — such as school uniforms and shoes — and most other items will be accepted.
That restriction is a practical one rather than a preference. Adult clothing is the category most commonly donated and least commonly sold at community sales, and it occupies table space that could hold items that move. Children’s clothing, particularly school uniforms, sells reliably.
The Program It Funds
The OBFDLA makes it its mission to ensure that no child in Orange Beach goes without at Christmas.
An October sale funding a December program is standard timing for holiday assistance efforts. Gifts have to be purchased, sorted and distributed before the holiday, which means fundraising has to finish well in advance — and October is late enough to catch households clearing out for fall and early enough to leave purchasing time.
For more information, contact event chair Linda Tucker at 251-747-5767 or stop by Orange Beach City Hall.