STEPHEN UHLER

stephen.uhler@sunmedia.ca

The 14th annual Carefor Health and Community Services fundraising auction, held Saturday at the Best Western Pembroke Inn and Conference Centre, was again a success.

The event raised more than $11,000 on Saturday night through a live auction, silent auction and donations from some individuals. While a few more donations are still coming in, the charity auction committee was pleased to see the amount raised.

Close to 200 people attended, with the dinner portion of the event selling out its 160 tickets quickly after they went on sale. In fact, the dinner tickets sold out so quickly, they were gone before Carefor could publicize it.

Jennifer Layman, who does community outreach for Carefor, said this is her first auction, and she was amazed by how it unfolded.

"This operates so seamlessly," she said, as the organization comes together to make this happen. Carefor staff donate their time for this, and everyone across Renfrew County steps up to help by donating items for the sale.

"If we don't call them, businesses are calling us saying we forgot them, and offering items to us," she said.

People bid on 93 items which were auctioned off, and had a chance at 114 more items at a silent auction, which were laid out on tables for display.

"They started off with 60 balloons which contained $5 gifts, and 60 more with $10 gifts," she said. These were popped at the appropriate time, and all sold out within minutes of being offered.

The auctioneer, John Hargreaves, kept everyone entertained as his skilled vocalizations kept the sale moving at a brisk pace. Fred Blackstein resumed his duties as MC for the evening.

Items ranged from golf club memberships to tickets to game four of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in Ottawa, plus art, rugs, camping gear and almost anything else one could imagine.

At one point in the evening, the organizers paused to honour Tom MacKenzie, a physiotherapist who has volunteered for the auction from the beginning.

"He oversees the set up of the auction, making sure everything lines up and items match the numbers," Ms. Layman said, and many other tasks to ensure the event runs smoothly.

Carefor doesn't receive any funding from the government. It is a private organization and depends solely on the charity and the generosity of members of the community and the income from its residents.

Proceeds raised from this year's auction are going towards upgrades in the dining room so that the residents of the Pembroke Civic Complex can eat together. Currently, the residents eat in two shifts as there is not enough room for everyone to be in the dining hall at the same time.

Glenna MacKenzie, Carefor charity auction committee chairwoman, said they chose this upgrade auction because it really contributes to the quality of life at Carefor.

"Mealtime is a time for sharing, and when everyone can sit together for a meal our residents will feel more connected to each other," she said. Construction work on the expanded dining hall is expected to begin this summer.

Stephen Uhler is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist