Taco Salad Auction Meal Fundraiser in Spencer, TN — June 27 to Support Child with MLD Disease 🌮

Across Sequatchie Valley, neighbors regularly come together when a family faces medical crisis—and this June, a community meal and live auction at Burritt College will bring that tradition to bear for a local child fighting a rare neurological disease. The event reflects the region’s deep commitment to supporting families through their most difficult seasons.

On June 27, 2026, the community is invited to gather at Burritt College, 427 College St, Spencer, TN 38585 for a taco salad meal and live auction beginning at 3:00 PM, with the live auction starting at 5:00 PM. 🎉 The event is organized to support Bentley Moore, a child living with MLD (Metachromatic Leukodystrophy), a rare genetic disease that attacks the nervous system and progressively affects movement, feeding, and daily function.

💔 Why This Matters

MLD is a devastating disease that has already taken significant abilities from Bentley—including his ability to crawl, feed himself, and move independently. Medical treatment exists that can slow the disease’s progression, but it comes at substantial cost. Every dollar raised at this event goes directly toward Bentley’s medical needs and care. For families facing rare diseases, community support often makes the difference between accessing life-changing treatment and going without. This fundraiser represents neighbors choosing to stand with a family in crisis.

🎟️ What Residents Should Know

Meal Details: Taco salad meals are priced at $10.00 and include salad, drink, and dessert. 🥗 The event features both a live auction and raffle opportunities, giving attendees multiple ways to support the cause while enjoying community time together.

Contact & Information: For questions or to learn more, contact Tracy Stafford at 423-987-5096. 📞

🤝 Community Connections

Burritt College serves as the gathering place for this event—a venue that has long hosted community gatherings and celebrations across the valley. The use of a local college campus signals how institutions in Sequatchie Valley often open their doors to support neighbors in need. The organizers’ decision to hold the event here strengthens the visible connection between the college and the broader community it serves.

✨ Opportunities for Connection

Residents can participate in several ways: attending the meal, bidding in the live auction, entering the raffle, or simply spreading word about the event to friends and family. 📣 For those who may not be able to attend but want to support Bentley’s medical care, reaching out to Tracy Stafford may reveal additional ways to contribute. Events like this often create unexpected connections—neighbors meet neighbors, local businesses donate auction items, and community bonds deepen through shared purpose.

❤️ Human Impact

Behind this event is a family navigating an uncertain medical journey and a child whose quality of life depends on access to specialized care. For Bentley’s family, community turnout sends a powerful message: you are not alone, and your child’s wellbeing matters to all of us. For attendees, the event offers a concrete way to make a tangible difference in a child’s life—not through abstract donation, but through gathering, sharing a meal, and bidding on items together. That human connection often matters as much as the funds raised.

🌟 What Happens Next

After June 27, all proceeds will be directed toward Bentley’s ongoing medical needs and treatment. Community members may want to follow up with Tracy Stafford or the organizing family to learn how the funds were used and whether additional support may be needed as Bentley’s care continues. Rare disease families often benefit from sustained community awareness and support over time, not just a single event.

💭 Questions for the Community

As you consider attending or supporting this event, you might reflect on these questions:

• How can neighbors best support families facing rare or serious medical diagnoses?
• What role do community gatherings play in helping families feel less isolated during medical crises?
• How might local businesses, churches, or organizations contribute auction items or volunteer support for events like this?
• What happens to families like Bentley’s after a single fundraiser—and how can communities sustain support over time?

🧵 Community Threads

Thread 1: Institutional Support & Community Care — Burritt College’s willingness to host this event reflects a broader thread in Sequatchie Valley: local institutions opening their doors to serve community needs. This strengthens the relationship between the college and the broader valley, positioning it not just as an educational facility but as a civic anchor that supports neighbors in crisis.

Thread 2: Neighbor-to-Neighbor Mutual Aid — The event embodies a deep valley tradition: when one family faces hardship, the community responds. This thread runs through church fundraisers, school support networks, and informal neighbor-helping-neighbor relationships. It reflects shared values about interdependence and collective responsibility.

Thread 3: Rare Disease Awareness & Education — By hosting this event, the community becomes more aware of MLD and the families affected by it. This awareness can lead to future support, advocacy, and understanding—strengthening the broader fabric of compassion in the valley.

🏘️ Community Strength Assessment

Potential Community Strength Score: 8/10 — This event has strong potential to strengthen community bonds. It brings neighbors together around a clear, shared purpose; it demonstrates institutional support through Burritt College’s participation; and it creates visible, tangible ways for people to help. The main challenges are ensuring sustained support beyond the single event and reaching residents who may not see the announcement. If the community follows up with Bentley’s family and continues to check in as medical needs evolve, this event could mark the beginning of a longer-term support network rather than a one-time gathering.

Source

The Expositor – Taco Salad Auction Meal fundraiser on June 27th at Burritt College in Spencer, TN to support child with MLD disease

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