Now in its fourth year, the Eckville and District Public Library’s silent auction fundraiser is bigger and better than ever.
With more than 40 different items to choose and bid from, library staff and board members are pleased to see this year’s fundraiser continue to grow.
“Ever year it gets a little bigger with more and more people participating,” said Patti Skocdopole, library manager.
Pam Carritt, library board treasurer, thinks the fundraiser has grown each year due to the wide variety of items to choose from, and who has donated them.
“People see simple items, like baked goods, and I think I could do that, I could donate that, and the next year they do, which helps us grow,” Carritt explained.
More items are expected to be donated to the silent auction over the course of the week, with the last day to donate an auction item being Dec. 1.
Skocdopole says this is to allow people in the area a chance to see all that is offered before the auction closes on Dec. 8 at noon.
The community as a whole has been very supportive of the auction, which is considered to be the major fundraiser for the library each year.
“We had a lot of messages and voting on each item that was posted [on Facebook] within in the first 24 hours of the auction starting,” said Skocdopole.
Bids on items have been very steady since the auction opened on Nov. 21, both in person and through the library’s Facebook page.
Staff members make sure to keep both the Facebook page and the in-person items up to date on bids by writing the most current bid for items in both formats.
“The community has been great, really supportive and excited for the auction,” said Skocdopole, adding she has heard from many people in town who have made it a point of coming into the library to view the items in person.
This isn’t the only fundraiser the library holds each year, but it is the largest, according to Carritt.
Along with the silent auction, the library also holds a book sale. The library board has plans for more fundraisers in the new year, but they are still in the planning stage.
The majority of the money raised through the silent auction will be used for programming at the library, to expand the young adult and adult programs available.
The fundraiser will also help to bring in new material for the space, including books, magazines and DVDs.
“These fundraisers help us to provide more for our community, and the library,” said Carritt.
Items available for bidding are varied and have been donated by both individuals and businesses in and around Eckville.
There are clothing items, donated by Mountain View Credit Union, homemade winter wear such as toques and scarves, some gift baskets and even baked goods which will be made fresh for the winner of the auction item.
Bidding on auction items can be done in person or at the library’s Facebook page, Eckville & District Library, from Nov. 21 to Dec. 8 with bidding ending at noon on Dec. 8.
megan.roth@eckvilleecho.com
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