Columbia rings in 2024 with 5th annual Mule Drop for Center of Hope
Though it was a cold Sunday evening, Columbia residents turned up to party, fundraise for a local nonprofit and count the seconds to start 2024 in an explosive and positive way.
The annual Mule Drop on New Year's Eve has become a Columbia tradition, now in its fifth year. Not only has the event become a way for locals to wind down the year in style, but also raise awareness and funding for Center of Hope.
Center of Hope, located at 110 E. 7th St., is a nonprofit which specializes in providing service to victims of domestic violence, including financial assistance, legal care, as well as shelter and therapy, among its many other resources.
"This year has been so great. We had the Emerald Empire Band from Nashville down here, who were just so great," Center of Hope Director Cindy Sims said. "We are having a good time this year, while also being a fundraiser for Center of Hope."
Sims added that a big part of conducting the event was made possible by city workers assisting throughout the night, from Public Works to officers with the Columbia Police Department.
"We are very thankful to have them. They put all of the barricades out, clean up the streets and are just really wonderful to us," Sims said. "Our local officers are just really wonderful at these events, and so we are really happy to have them. It was a wonderful event, though a little chilly, but I bet we were warmer than New York."
This year's Mule Drop was also presented in partnership with Experience Maury, an initiative of Maury County Visitor's Bureau, which encourages local business owners and stakeholders in ways that bolster the Maury County community.
"We love sponsoring this event every year, getting to look over the crowd, which this year is a great crowd. It's amazing," Mule Drop sponsor David Baxter of Baxter Services said prior to the midnight countdown. "It takes a lot of planning and strategy to make this happen. Nashville does their thing, but C-Town does our thing."
Baxter added that part of the fun is that each Mule Drop isn't just a great way to ring in the new year, but a great way for multiple organizations to get together and celebrate their town. It not only provides optimism for 2024, but also ties into the community's nature of giving to those who need it most, he said.
"Across the state of Tennessee, there are more cases of domestic violence and places like Center of Hope continue to need more funding," Baxter said.
With that, Baxter proposed an offer to Columbia residents asking for a $25,000 donation from Maury County officials, which he would personally match, whether it is one donation or multiple.
"We want to get at least $100,000 for 2024, and we can make this event even bigger than it is today," Baxter said. "Push to find $25,000 in your budget. Ask them for the support."
Baxter said Experience Maury and Center of Hope have a vision of the annual Mule Drop continuing to grow and prosper as the years go by.
"Every year it keeps getting better and better, and at some point we are going to be lined up to the Post Office," Baxter said. "We can make that happen in C-Town, folks."
Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Columbia rings in 2024 with 5th annual Mule Drop for Center of Hope
