Summary: The 19th annual Red Cross Benefit auction will take place Saturday, June 30, at the Mt. Hope Auction Barn. Good food and plenty to bid on are sure to make the auction another sucess.
The 19th annual Disaster Services Benefit auction will take place on Saturday, June 30, at the Mt Hope Auction Barn.
Pat and Larry Lang, the executive directors of the Holmes County American Red Cross, created the event 19 years ago to help raise funds for those in need, and helping is just what they did. The first year of the auction brought in about $2,000, 19 years later the proceeds are totaling up to $37,000 or $38,000.
Each Red Cross Chapter is on their own, we dont get anything from government or other aides, we have to come up with the funding to support our disaster service program, said Lang. In 1993 the chapter had no money, my husband (Larry) took charge and came up with the idea for the auction, it helps us be able to respond to emergency services, like housing, food, clothing and healthcare.
The benefit begins at 7 a.m. with a breakfast buffet, including, sausage gravy, sausage links and patties, eggs, doughnuts, and fresh mixed fruit. Following the breakfast at 8 a.m. the bake sale will begin, with everything including baked goods like cakes, pies, cream sticks and glazed doughnuts.
At 10 a.m., the lawn furniture sale starts and playground equipment, wheelbarrows, and everything outdoors will be auctioned off. The furniture sale will begin at 11 a.m., with beds, chairs, kitchen sets and other similar items. The quilt sale will follow at 1 p.m. with homemade quilts and wall hangings. All of the auction items are new and donated from community businesses.
Each year more people are aware of what we do and why we need the funds. Last year we had people from 13 states and Canada at the auction, it grows each year and more and more people are giving donations and volunteering to help so all proceeds go directly to the Red Cross Fund, said Lang.
From 7-11 a.m., the Pomerene Mobile Medical Unit will be accepting blood donations. Part of the American Red Cross is the major efforts they give to bring more people out to give blood, so during the auction anyone who meets the requirements will be able to give blood.
Lunch will provide a savory meal for those in attendance. Bidders will be served barbecue chicken, pies, noodles, potato salad, and much more. Carryout will be available for those who are in a hurry. Also available will be homemade butter pecan, chocolate, and vanilla ice cream and root beer floats.
Pat and Larry Lang use the funds raised to work with storm shelters, disaster services, health and safety services and the armed services. The Holmes County American Red Cross also offers summer swimming lessons, lifeguard training, and first aid training.
The American Red Cross provides food and shelter to families and victims of natural disasters or fires, they provide clothing, hygiene products, anything to help people feel normal again.
The American Red Cross organization picks up hundreds of volunteers from all over to help with everything from volunteering time, donated blood and platelets, to even donating money to help the cause.
During the auction its really the community supporting each other. When people lose everything we go and help them get back on their feet. This is why we need to do things like the annual auction to raise money, said Lang.
To find out more about donation and learning how you can help you can contact the Holmes County American Red Cross office at 330-674-5861.
