Saturday's fundraiser for Arkansas State Police Cpl. Clayton McWilliams' medical expenses is receiving such overwhelming interest, organizers are moving it to the Ashdown High School cafeteria.
The AHS cafeteria is a much bigger venue and will hold at least twice as many people, said Arden Volunteer Fire Chief Richard Bowman.
"It's really crazy how this has taken off. We were just going to throw a close-knit community fundraiser and it has just blossomed," Bowman said.
McWilliams was injured Jan. 3 while driving to a crash scene along U.S. Highway 71. McWilliams' patrol vehicle apparently left the roadway after hydroplaning in heavy rain and struck a tree. He remains hospitalized in Little Rock.
"He is doing good all things considered, fighting really hard," Bowman said.
The Arden Volunteer Fire Department, Little River County Sheriff's Department and Ashdown Police Department are holding the chili dinner and auction to raise money to help McWilliams and his family with medical expenses. It will be 5 p.m. Saturday at the school at 751 Rankin St., Ashdown,Ark. There will be a live auction, a silent auction and a raffle.
Numerous items have been donated and donations are still being accepted, Bowman said.
"We have $10 items and some that are in the thousands," he said. Numerous firearms will be raffled or auctioned.
"I said I would like to raffle off a .22 and next thing I know I had one donated. And then several more guns were donated," Bowman said.
Bowman said the ASP troopers work well with local law enforcement and first responders.
"They appreciate what we do, and we support and appreciate what they do," he said.
For more information or to donate an item, contact Bowman at 870-648-6289, Johnny Brown at 903-748-6846 or Justin Cooper at 903-824-0016.