Public hungry for gifts to help Hope Village for Children
By Staff
COLORFUL HORSES – Jill Williams looks through "Carousels Abound," a book about the Around Town Carousels Abound public art project. The book as well as T-shirts, miniature carousel horses and note cards are for sale at McRae's. Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star
By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Dec. 19, 2002
Carousel horses are selling like hot cakes at McRae's Department Store in Bonita Lakes Mall.
Dennis Hall, store manager, set aside prime real estate in a high-traffic area in the middle of the store about a week ago to sell items to benefit Hope Village for Children.
The items include miniature versions of the Around Town Carousels Abound horses, "Carousels Abound, The Carousel Horses of Meridian Mississippi" book, T-shirts and other items promoting the public art project that has generated more than $60,000 for the home for abused and neglected children.
Carrie Ponder, executive director of Hope Village, said she is hoping merchandise can be expanded to include coffee mugs and enamel lapel pins.
Hall said the miniature carousel horses are a favorite with McRae's shoppers. He said the store has replicas of about 24 of the 37 different horses in stock and that he hopes to have the remainder within a few weeks.