There will be more than 150 items on the auction block at the legion Saturday to raise funds for the 139 Children’s Fundraising Society. Donations have been coming in well all week, says event organizer Sharleen MacMurchy, and more items are expected right up until the auction starts tomorrow afternoon.
“We do have some volunteers now but we could always use some more,” MacMurchy says.
Some of the volunteers lined up to help include the Roller Derby girls who are coming in to help set up the auction and help throughout the day.
The auction happens at the Legion from 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5 until closing at 1 a.m. the next morning with auctioneers Ab Newman and Tom Bunn.
In addition to the auction, MacMurchy says the volunteers will have a bake table set up that will be filled with home baking including butter tarts, bannock, and homemade bread.
The Legion meat draw will also be happening in the afternoon.
The majority of the items being sold in the auction are listed in the pull-out pages in this issue of the Tribune Weekend.
MacMurchy says Sears has been particularly generous this year donating an electronic treadmill, kitchen table and chairs, leather chair and ottoman, and a large barbecue.
Walmart has donated an Interpret scanner, printer, and fax machine. Delainey’s has donated a keyless deadbolt entry system and Always Travel has donated a two-piece luggage set.
There are two original paintings. One is called Race the Rain by Kamloops artist Pam Taylor featuring a cowboy riding into sunset with a storm behind him.
There is also a painting of Carey Price by Jiang ZunZhong as well as a signed Carey Price jersey and limited edition pictures of Price, as well as vintage Canucks hockey jerseys.
Numerous businesses have donated large and small items and gift certificates, for services such as income tax, restaurant meals, taxi service and more. There are porcelain dolls and hand-carved First Nations masks and more.
Chair Greg Ashley says the society ran out of the funds raised last year in August and has since been referring families needing assistance to the Variety Club and other helping agencies.
The telethon that normally happens in conjunction with the 139 auction has been cancelled this year due to health problems and a shortage of volunteers. But people who may have donated to telethon in other years, instead of attending the auction are being encouraged to make their tax-deductible donations by mail.
MacMurchy can be reached at 250-398-6222. Donations can be mailed to the 139 Children’s Fundraising society at Box 2498 Williams Lake, B.C., V2G 4P2.
The Horsefly Dinner and Auction for the society is coming up Feb. 12. People who would like to help out with donations for that event can contact Cindy Hoy at 250-620-3788. Donations can be dropped off at Clark’s General Store or the Corner House Cafe.
Tickets to the event are available at Clark’s General Store, Corner House Cafe and the Anvil Pub.