Bid items have been a part of the United Way Estevan’s telethon for a long time.
Each year local crafters and artists create items that are sold through a silent auction that spans most of the 33-hour broadcast.
But this year the number of bid items went to a completely different level.
The United Way received a record 96 bid items for the fundraiser on Oct. 27 and 28. The items generated $4,815, which means the average sale price was a little more than $50 per item.
Food, artwork, clothing, woodwork and other items were available this year. The common denominator, though, was that the items had to be hand-crafted. Store-bought items and gift card weren’t eligible.
“I was so impressed with all of the items that we had,” said Wendy Gustafson, who chairs the raffle committee, which is responsible for the bid items. “We had such good items, and we had a lot of bidding on the items this year, and a lot of interest on the items. I noticed people calling in and coming to put their bids in, and there was a lot of activity.”
Up until a few years ago, the United Way would have a few dozen bid items for people to choose from. But the number of items donated has grown considerable in recent years. Gustafson believes that growth reflects an emphasis placed on the bid items in recent years, both before and during the telethon.
The media has also been great in getting information out that the United Way is looking for bid items, she said.
“We have a lot of people who are very talented, and it’s their way to contribute to the United Way,” said Gustafson. “A lot more people look at that as a way to contribute to the telethon as opposed to maybe financially. It’s a different way to support it.”
There were so many items this year that United Way Estevan president Patrick Fisher referred to the telethon as a craft show on multiple occasions.
“It’s pretty impressive, and we have some very talented people,” said Gustafson. “When you get 96 bid items, it’s pretty much a craft show all right.”
At one time, back in 2006, the United Way was short on bid items, so hosts Trevor Gowen and Gene Stephany auctioned off a No. 6 from the tote board. That number has been included in the bid items each year since, and has generated well over $1,000 for the United Way.
The United Way board presented the No. 6 to Gowen during the telethon to thank him for hosting the telethon each year for more than a decade.
The telethon’s board members do a good job of setting up the bid items, so they’re able to find room for all of them. Gustafson said it’s a good problem to have when they have to find space for all of the items.
The bid items were showcased several times during the telethon, and were also posted on social media accounts.
Gustafson was particularly impressed with the number of people who donated. It wasn’t just a case of a few people donating a lot of items each. They had lots of contributors, which created more variety in the items that were available.
“We had new items this year from people who hadn’t contributed before, so that’s always nice to see, and I think when we get some new board members on, it taps into different areas,” said Gustafson. “Everyone’s been really good about talking to others.”
Gustafson also lauded the Hearts and Hands Quilting Guild for their contribution of a quilt for the raffle. Ticket sales on the quilt raised another $1,541 for the telethon.
“That makes a huge difference in our total,” said Gustafson.
