When it comes to fundraising, “men could do better“ than women, said Donnie Layton during an on-air Newberry County School Supplies Drive.

The women in the room contested Layton's throw-down-the-gauntlet comment and a battle-of-the-sexes fundraiser was underway.

Then I said, “Who out there will send me $10?“ Layton says.

The phone started ringing.

In the several years since, retired teachers “Dandy Don“ Layton and “Pretty Pat“ Caldwell have hosted the on-air gender battle on WKDK, raising funds for school supply distribution.

Last year, they raised around $1,500 on air, for a $2,000 total.

The money bought 800 packets of school supplies for area children who might otherwise go without.

“A lot of times, you think everything is OK and everyone has everything they need,“ says Caldwell, who helped organize the drive.

“There are families in our community that have more than one child and they can't afford to purchase all they need to when school starts back,“ she says.

During her teaching days, Caldwell says it was heartbreaking to see students on the first day of school without supplies.

The need is there, she says, and parents and children have lined up for the supplies in rain and extremely hot weather.

Some have even tagged the group's work as divine.

“God must have sent you,“ Caldwell recalls one mother of four saying. “People are very grateful.“

Layton and Caldwell go head-to-head on-air to encourage caller donations for their teams during WKDK's 9 a.m. coffee hour on July 31. Fundraising for the project opens at 7 a.m.

A week before the event, Layton has long been rallying listeners-even female listeners-to donate to his side.

“He's already started recruiting callers,“ says Caldwell.

Their light jousting has also begun.

“And I plan to whip ‘em good this year,“ says Layton.

Competition aside, the duo consents on their efforts' rewards:

“All you have to see the looks on the children's' faces,“ says Caldwell. “It's just so rewarding.“

“It's a great ministry,“ says Layton. “I like helping people.“

Prior to the competition, the group has annually raised support through a radio-a-thon drive since 1998.

If you have a child in Newberry County Schools, and buying school supplies is a hardship, bring proof of a school-age child to one of the distribution sites.

Distribution begins Saturday, Aug. 16 at 9 a.m.

Call 276-5328 for information or to find out how you can help.

What to bring: