Gleaming classic cars fill the room at Dick’s Classic Garage in San Marcos, as locals gathered for a fundraiser for the Hays Family Justice Center. Still in the planning phase, the Justice Center will provide multiple services to victims of domestic violence. (Photo by Erica Garza, Keepsake Images)

Fundraising activities for the Friends of the Hays Family Justice Center at Dick’s Classic Garage in San Marcos brought out local residents and old car aficianados, and tears of joy from a Kyle girl given a heart-shaped 1.5 carat diamond pendant.

The Bucket Raffle, a major portion of the fundraiser, consisted of buying tickets and putting them in buckets in front of an item you wanted a chance to win. Meridian Parham  (right photo) of Plum Creek decided that she really wanted the diamond pendant, placing all of her tickets in one bucket. Alas, she didn’t win, but the person whose name was drawn donated the pendant back so that it could be auctioned live.

Mike Moeller of Wimberley won the live auction for the diamond necklace and presented it to Meridian, who burst into tears of joy. Moeller’s request to Meridian? That she go to college and pay him back when she got a good job. Later in the evening, Meridian was telling attendees that she was going to get a good job so she could “pay him back” for her necklace.