The times are tough, but for many, they could have been much tougher if not for the local charities supporting families in need. Two friends, Becky Panter and Anne Morrow, brought their efforts together and came up with a safe fundraiser to support the Carnduff and Area Food Bank and Oxbow Community Emergency group.
The online auction gathering money for the two local charities started on May 5 at noon and the bidding will continue until 9 p.m. on May 7. Panter and Morrow posted separate pictures and descriptions of each item on the Oxbow Benefit Auction – 2020 Facebook page.
Panter named a few out of the many items donated, “There is everything from Norwex Tupperware, home-based businesses, my mom sent me money to buy some things, there is succulents, a lot of gift bags, hotel rooms that are being donated, books by local authors that have been donated.”
They had about 80 people and businesses donating the items. Panter said she was fascinated with people’s generosity and the community support they received.
People can bid under the pictures and if they win they are expected to pay with e-transfer. Many items donated for the auction might make great gifts for Mother’s Day, so the organizers wanted to make sure that they had everything set and going before the date. Panter said that a two-night stay in a hotel in Regina is one of their bigger items. But there is a lot to choose from.
One man who grew up in Carnduff and now is a paramedic in Alberta has donated a few of his books about working EMS. There are also such items as 10 hours of babysitting by a retired teacher and much more.
Like at any other auction, people can bid however much they are willing to spend. Minimum bid increments are $2 and the highest bid at the end of the auction will win the item. Full details can be found on their Facebook page.
Panter hasn’t done anything like this before, but she used an example of family members who did something similar for Telemiracle and other organizations. She felt that there are many people in the area who may need support if not right now, then in the days to come. She explained that first, the pandemic “has made a dent in people and what they were making,” but the further decline in oil prices put many locals in an even more difficult situation.
“My income has been hit by that, but we have stockpiled. And I know there are some that probably haven’t been able to. So I’m thinking the food bank and the Oxbow emergency fund are going to be asked for a decent amount of money or supplies,” said Panter.
While the Carnduff and Area Food Bank focuses on food, the Oxbow Community Emergency group provides emergency support including food, medical and travel.
All proceeds from the online auction will be split 50/50 between the two organizations.
