Contributor
KNOXVILLE – A belated Christmas gift from the owner of the New Rainbow Club West has finally made it into the hands of the Central Baptist Church of Bearden’s Samaritan Ministries program.
A long list of Knoxville ’s premier entertainers came together last December for the Rainbow Club West’s first annual Christmas Aid Benefit. The 2004 benefit raised more than $1,000 for the Samaritan Ministries.
The ministry serves the Knoxville community by providing assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS through support groups, weekly on-site meals and monthly food supplements to assist families with nutritional needs.
Wayne Smith, director of Samaritan Ministries, and his wife attended the event. The two left before the event ended, and were told that the monies raised were mailed via The United States Postal Service.
Will Pappas, owner of The Rainbow Club West, became aware in July 2005 that the monies raised at the benefit were never received by the Samaritan Ministries.
“We never received the check and simply feel that the relationship between the two entities is more important than the money,” explained Smith, when asked why he had not questioned the lack of receipt of the monies raised.
Pappas explained that he had mailed a check to Smith, and was surprised to learn they had never received the money.
“I personally mailed a cashiers check to Smith and am shocked that this is the first I have heard of the situation,” Pappas said.
On Friday, July 15, Samaritan Ministries received the belated Christmas gift from Pappis’s own pocket in the form of a check for $1,024.
Pappas and Smith both contend that the situation was nothing more than a miscommunication, and both will look into what happened with the original check.
More information on the services provided by the Samaritan Ministries can be found by calling 865-690-5625. Information about The Rainbow Club West can be found online at www.rainbowclubwest.com.