Eager bidders eye the prize while a patron at the Medicine Hat News Santa Claus Charity Auction raises their card to bid at the annual fundraiser. This year's auction was held at DayzOff Pub.--NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Hatters gathered for an evening of festive fun and giving Thursday during the Medicine Hat News Santa Claus Fund’s 31st annual Charity Auction at Dayz Off Pub.
“Together with the community, we raised almost $50,000,” SCF executive director Deanna Doerksen told the News. “The funds raised at the auction go directly to our grocery voucher program to ensure that many local families (are able) to enjoy Christmas meal.”
The grand total raised during the evening is $49,890, with approximately 300 items bid on.
“The highest bid item (Thursday) was a carving of two eagles fighting by Marina Cole of Chainsaw Spirit, and that went for $3,500,” said Lorraine Schmaltz, who assisted with the auction.
“We also had a very generous donation of $10,000 made last night, and that came from the Yuill Family Foundation.”
Schmaltz is grateful to the Yuill family and other longtime supporters of the auction, such as Hatter Rob Wallace, who has been in attendance every year since the auction’s establishment. And he is now known by his nickname the “Teddy Bear King,” due to his tradition of bidding on teddy bears, which he then donates to Medicine Hat’s Ronald McDonald House.
“It’s just all for the kids,” Wallace said Friday morning after returning home from Ronald McDonald House, where he dropped off 11 bears he purchased at the auction. “Everybody deserves to have a good Christmas (and) no one should ever go without.”
Like Wallace, many auction supporters donate the items they purchase to local charities and non-profit organizations.
“Lenny Lloyd is a very big donor as well,” said Schmaltz. “And Lenny, this year again, bought the Kinsmen’s Christmas tree, which came with 68 board games. He bought the tree for $3,200 and then turned around and donated the tree to the women’s shelter, and donated the board games back to SCF.”
Lloyd and Wallace were among approximately 140 individuals at the auction, which co-ordinators describe as being “extremely successful.”
“It’s great for the community,” said Dayz Off Pub co-owner Craig Van Maarion, “Just a great was to raise money for the kids.”
