The Carlyle Lions Club continues to enjoy the support of the community for its annual dinner and auction.
The 29th annual event was held March 5 at the Memorial Hall, with about 200 people in attendance. The event started with supper, and raffles and a silent auction followed. There was also a draw for a travel voucher, and a game that event spokesperson Wayne Wilson called The Hunger Games.
“People drop in their raffle tokens, and first place prize gets $700 worth of food coupons that they can do whatever they like with,” he said.
People who purchase dinner tickets were also entered into a draw for a $1,000 grand prize.
Raffles had about 150 items between two tables.
The featured part of the evening, though, was a live auction that had 44 items. The top-selling item was a package for a Winnipeg Jets hockey game during the 2020-21 season that included four tickets and accommodations that sold for $3,100.
Carlyle resident Dennis Feduk, known in the area as the Pie Man, donated a pie a month for a year, and it sold for $1,400.
Other items included tools, gravel and home décor. A Cale Fleury Montreal Canadiens jersey and a Haydn Fleury Carolina Hurricanes jersey, both framed, were also available. The Fleurys were born and raised in Carlyle.
This year’s auctioneer was Ward Cutler, who is originally from Carlyle but now resides in Virden, Man. He returns to Carlyle each year for the event, and this is the 25th time he has conducted the auction.
The evening raised between $32,000 and $35,000 for community projects. Wilson said the Lions have raised more than $800,000 in the 29-year history of the auction, thanks to the generous support of the community.
Wilson said the Lions Club has an application form for those who want to seek support from the event. Groups apply for money based on their needs. Last year they handed out $35,000 to 22 different organizations, ranging from the town’s museum to the Memorial Hall, from gymnastics to school projects, and from the skating rink to the swimming pool.
“We don’t keep any of it; we hand it all out, based on an application form,” said Wilson.
People who want to apply can contact Wilson, and he will get them a form. The beneficiaries are usually decided in early May, and then the Lions get to enjoy handing out the cheques later in the spring.
