Local entrepreneur runs fundraiser for a 3rd year

Published 7:47 pm Friday, September 25, 2015

CAROLINE HUDSON | DAILY NEWS DOING GOOD: Pictured is Joseph Savage standing with his table set up outside of the Piggly Wiggly in Washington. This year he hopes to raise money to buy turkeys for the homeless shelter as well as beds.

CAROLINE HUDSON | DAILY NEWS
DOING GOOD: Pictured is Joseph Savage standing with his table set up outside of the Piggly Wiggly in Washington. This year he hopes to raise money to buy turkeys for the homeless shelter as well as beds.

Joseph Savage is a man of many talents.

He’s an entrepreneur—he created his own line of cleaning products, Savage Beast Tire Shine. He’s a 23-year employee of First South Bank in Washington.

But most importantly, he’s using his talents to give back to those in need.

This is the third year Savage is setting up a table at the Piggly Wiggly in Washington, which includes the well-received Wheel Deal. He’s out there every day except Wednesdays and Sundays, setting up his table for a couple of hours after work.

Anyone who passes by can buy a raffle ticket, putting them in the running to win a $100 Piggly Wiggly gift card or one of his cleaning products. Savage said the money he raises from the raffle will go toward purchasing turkeys to give to the homeless shelter during the holidays.

But this year there’s a new aspect to the fundraiser.

Upon seeing an article about the shelter’s need for beds, Savage said he decided to also try to raise money for that. If a person purchases one of Savage’s cleaning products, then he or she can spin the wheel. Whatever the dial lands on will determine if that person will win a prize or how much money his Savage Beast company will donate toward the beds, he said.

“The more products I sell, the more I can sell for the beds side,” Savage said. “It became a fun thing and we raise some money behind that. God bless that Wheel Deal.”

He said he gets a discount on the turkeys from Piggly Wiggly, but this year the turkeys will be Butterball brand and a little more expensive.

“So I’m having to raise a lot of money this year. … That’s why I had to start early,” Savage said. “I have to buy the turkeys from his store. That’s why he allows me to stand out there outside the store.”

Savage’s desire to help those in need comes largely from his faith in God. He referred to a passage from the Book of Matthew, chapter 25, verse 40:“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Raising money for the homeless shelter is a good way for him to set a good example for his family, as well as give back to the community while waiting on feedback from his audition for the entrepreneur TV reality show “Shark Tank,” he said.

“This is my way of trying, you know, of showing my grandkids, ‘hey look, I don’t have everything, but I do try to help,’” Savage said. “Maybe they can continue doing the same things.”

“I thought it would be a fun thing to do, and people get excited about it.”