By Jennifer Theurer

Most spelling bees are held in a school gymnasium with the top award being bragging rights on the playground later. No matter who wins Neighbor to Neighbor’s annual Spelling Bee on February 7, everyone in attendance can say they helped Dickinson County’s most vulnerable.

Amanda Robinson, Neighbor to Neighbor director, said, “Pretty much all the proceeds that anybody donates to us, they go directly back out into the community and we serve Dickinson County.”

Neighbor to Neighbor uses the gains from the Spelling Bee to provide emergency services like paying a month’s rent, gas to get to a doctor’s appointment, or co-pays for medications.

“Maybe they need steel-toed boots for work and they can’t afford it,” Robinson said. “It’s any kind of an emergency service that they may need in a small amount that we can help.”

Scheduled for 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at St. Andrews Parish Hall in Abilene, the bee offers attendees a chance to socialize and flex their spelling skills. Tom Schwartz, co-host of the evening, has spent many hours making the list of competition words.

“It starts out pretty easy and then it gets harder and harder and harder,” Robinson said. “We have some people that have been coming for years and they’re serious and they want to win.”

Tickets for the event can be purchased online at n2nabilene.com or in person at the Neighbor to Neighbor office during regular business hours or up to the day of the Spelling Bee.

“We hope to do this every year so we can keep that [emergency service] pot up so we can use it throughout the year,” Robinson said.