It was nearly standing room only at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary auction Saturday evening in Oak Harbor.
Organizers said the crowd wasn’t quite as big as last year’s, but it was still a good showing.
“The weather held off for us and we were pleased with attendance,” said Joanne McDaniel, Ladies Auxiliary president. “It seemed as though people weren’t bidding outrageously, but consistently. We were happy with the outcome.”
According to McDaniel, approximately 95 paddles were issued, many going to couples, who took one paddle to share. Items for the auction are new or gently used and are donated by area residents and businesses alike. Auxiliary members began collecting items several months ago and organized them into baskets for a silent auction. Larger items were sold during a live auction.
“We had something in the neighborhood of 200 baskets and close to 100 other items in the silent auction,” McDaniel said.
Some of the more interesting live auction items this year included two truckloads of topsoil, a regulation-size pool table and a very unique, hand-carved 18-wheeler truck that was actually a cribbage board.
“It was amazing,” said McDaniel. “It took months to carve and paint and it had all the armed services decals. It was really quite something.”
In addition to being the main fundraiser for the Ladies Auxiliary during the year, the “We serve, because they served” auction is also a membership drive. That too went well, according to McDaniel.
“We feel like we did very well in our membership drive,” she said. “So we’re anxiously awaiting the return of applications and documentation and adding them to our rolls.”
To qualify for membership in the Ladies Auxiliary, one must have a spouse, sibling, parent or grandparent who served in a foreign war. Dues are $25 the first year and $20 a year thereafter.
Upcoming Auxiliary events include selling Buddy Poppies for Veterans Day, preparing Thanksgiving baskets for families in need and a Christmas party for senior citizens from 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14. The event is open to all seniors in Oak Harbor.
“All of the seniors get a gift, Santa will be there and there will be lots of fellowship and food,” McDaniel said.
