If you missed the auction, donations from individuals and groups hosting fundraisers are accepted through August 31. Click here to make a donation online and choose either congregational auction giving or individual auction giving.
Disaster Auction Recap
The 2023 Shenandoah District Disaster Auction was held at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds Friday and Saturday. Coordinating Committee Chair Catherine Lantz said she was “pleased” with the success of the event and grateful for the support of volunteers to set up and run the event. “I want to thank all the volunteers over many days of working with it and I want to thank the donors and those who stayed through the auction. Without these people, there would be no auction,” she noted. An ice cream social for all of the volunteers will be held on Saturday, September 30. More information about the event will be forthcoming.
The morning got underway early on Friday with the golf tournament at Heritage Oaks. Tournament Chair Doug Hughes said over 100 golfers came out for the event. See the article here for tournament results. When asked about the great weather for golfing, Hughes said, “God is good.”
Arts and Crafts Chair Sherri Carr said, “The weather was perfect and there was a nice variety of items to sell.” Carr commended her volunteers and noted that there were more people helping this year. “We had good teamwork and everything went well this year,” she said.
Although one of the major donors to the plant sale suffered a fire earlier this year, compromising three greenhouses and thousands of plants, there appeared to be no shortage of bedding plants, succulents and hanging baskets. Several members of the district stepped forward to foster the salvaged plants until the auction.
Baked Goods Chair Brenda Fawley noted 150 pies, hundreds of rolls, loaves of bread, cookies, cakes, candies, cupcakes and 585 apple dumplings sold this year. Early pleas for apple dumplings inspired seven congregations to contribute this year. In addition to baked goods, Ralph Via from Charlottesville donated 48 quarts of his sought-after honey to sell. Fawley reflected, “This was as close to normal for the auction since the Covid outbreak. We had more donations of items to sell, and many people told us to keep the change.”
Silent Auction Chair Judy Kidd also noted a nice assortment of items had been donated this year. She estimated between four and five hundred items were offered on the silent auction tables, which was the largest selection in the history of the silent auction. She explained, “We try to get a really good assortment of smaller items for people to pick up and look at to see the finer details” that might not be visible if the item went across the stage. Kidd said people were eager to bid and there was a good crowd bidding the whole time. There was lots of excitement, especially in the last 15 minutes of the auction period. “It ran the way we wanted it to run,” she noted. Items donated to the silent auction ranged from collectibles and antiques to more modern offerings. There were plants and garden statues, as well as two scale-model Hess trucks. She said they tried to feature selections of interest for all ages.
Left: Getting ready for the big sale.
Right: Prior to the auctions on Friday evening, a pork tenderloin dinner was served at beautifully decorated tables to over 400 diners.
(Photo left by Marty Barlow)
(Photo right by Brenda Diehl)
With the early morning aroma of fresh donuts emanating from the kettles of oil just outside the door, buyers could not resist and the volunteer donut-makers sold out of their heavenly rings in short order. Saturday’s volunteer chefs for the pancake and bacon breakfast fired up the griddles at 7 a.m. and served a steady stream of 300 people over three hours. The plate lunch choice of barbecue chicken or pulled pork sandwiches appealed to 250 hungry auction-goers. Volunteers from several congregations assisted with the meals, the fast food booth, the sale of barbecue chicken halves and drink sales.
This year, the barbecued chicken halves went even faster than the hot cakes, disappointing one older couple who discovered the last one had already been sold. When a previous buyer overheard the couple had missed out on getting chicken halves, she graciously opened her bag and offered them some of hers. One observer of this act of kindness stated, “Now, that is what being Brethren is all about.”
Prayer prior to the livestock auction was offered by Free Union Pastor Rick Parkhurst. Along with the livestock, there were lawn and garden supplies and a scale model of a John Deere tractor sold to the highest bidder. Although no poultry could be offered due to avian flu concerns, the crowd embraced the sale of rabbits, with multiple chants of “Sell it again.” Lantz said nearly $20,000 was raised with the livestock auction.
Pastor Karl Magenhofer from Timberville spoke before the opening of the main auction on Saturday. There were over 90 donated items featured in advance of the auction on the website, and on the auction’s Facebook page, and dozens more were offered at auction. Some items crafted by the late Ray Wakeman from previous auctions reappeared for sale again this year, bringing back fond memories for those familiar with his work. Ned Conklin, who is well respected for his bird carvings, was honored during the auction for his many years of support. He donated a beautiful quail carving for this year’s sale.
In its second year, the coin auction flourished. The initial listing of coins for auction spanned six pages. Henry Hawkins, who is well-versed in coin collecting, organized the well-attended sale.
Gladys Remnant and Peggy Lineweaver entertained the children who came with games, activities and creative endeavors. The beautiful weather was a welcome sight and added to the fun.
Tables of creative theme baskets were up for auction on Saturday afternoon. In one instance, a wooden rocking chair filled with a doll and miscellaneous household items was wrapped up in basket-style. A rolling job site chest served as the basket for battery-operated tools and a gift card in memory of Pastor Eric Croft. Another theme basket was a red wagon filled with outdoor play items such as sidewalk chalk, a playground ball and the fixings for s’mores. A foldable beach wagon also contained s’mores kits, along with puzzles, games, a bible and other books. There was an inflatable pool, still in the box, with pool toys, a lemon-themed basket, a basket of angels, an outdoor planter filled with gardening supplies and a Fourth of July basket.
Quilt Committee Chair Helen Shank reported 72 quilts and wallhangings were auctioned this year. She estimated the quilt auction brought in nearly $30,000. However, the final accounting for the auction will not be available until after the books close on August 31.
The following items were auctioned in 2023
