Donate

The Quilt Committee would like you to look over the following information and consider a donation to the auction. We appreciate your response to last year’s auction and are looking forward to great participation in the year’s auction. If you have questions or need suggestions for items to donate, please contact Nancy Wetsel at 540.241.0448 or nancyofapplehill@gmail.com

 

Quilts, miniature quilts, and wall hangings should be hand or machine-pieced, hand appliquéd, made of 100% cotton or cotton blends, and pre- washed before piecing.

 

  1. Quilts
    1. Machine or hand pieced, hand appliquéd, or whole cloth
    2. To be considered a quilt, it should be hand or machine quilted. (Tops that are knotted are considered comforters)
    3. Approximate sizes: Crib (45” X 54”); Twin (72” X 95”); Double (90” X 108”); Queen (92” X 108”); King (115” X 115”)
  2. Miniature Quilts
  3. Wall Hangings
  4. Bedspreads – crocheted (include pattern names)
  5. Tablecloths – crocheted (include pattern names)
  6. Afghans – crocheted (include pattern names)
  7. Comforters will be auctioned with other items
  8. Identify the size, pattern, and person or church group making the above and pin to the item

 

Note: All items are to be clean and free of stains, lint, dust, animal hair, and odor. Check each item carefully before donating. A lot of work and expense goes into making a quilt, so we want to present it the best we can.

Please get descriptions and sizes of quilts and wall hangings to Nancy Wetsel prior to May 1st so the information can be included in the quilt brochure at the auction. If you did not get a picture of your quilt or wall hanging in the 2026 book, you can send a picture/description of the item to sdcobda@gmail.com so it can be posted on Facebook.

The heart of any auction is the “sense of purpose,” and of course, tasting the FOOD! A great way to contribute to this year’s auction is to donate baked goods. Thanks to dedicated churches who provide the many variations of good-tasting baked items for the auction.

Bring your donated baked goods into the main exhibit building between the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, and then again early on Saturday morning. Sales begin at 1 p. m. on Friday and continue through Saturday.

REMEMBER – Good labels help to sell the product.

Allergies – When you package your baked items, please list on the label the main ingredients. If the baked item contains nuts, peanut butter, or artificial sweeteners, put these ingredients on the label as some people may be allergic.

Questions – Please contact Sharon Brumbaugh at 540.476.2845 or email her at sabrumbaugh@gmail.com

WHAT SELLS BEST?

 

Homemade Bread – all types are welcome, including loaves, rolls, cinnamon buns, tea rings, wheat and white, whole grain, and speciality bread.

Apple Dumplings – packaged individually, these are a big hit at the auction and are always welcome.

Cakes – both whole and half. Half cakes sell out quickly for the smaller household. Favorites are: carrot, coconut, angel food, pound, chocolate, red velvet, walnut, pineapple upside down, etc.

Cookies and Brownies – depending on the size, please package 6 or 12.

Muffins and Cupcakes – package in quantities of 2, 4 or 6.

Fudge and Homemade Candy – 6 pieces to a small paper plate.

Pies – any kind as long as they don’t require refrigeration, i.e., cherry, apple, blueberry, and peach. We also get requests for rhubarb, blackberry, sour cherry, and pecan. Sugar-free pies are needed too.

Garden Produce – fresh spring vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, asparagus, and rhubarb. Lettuce and spinach should be cleaned and put into plastic bags. Asparagus and rhubarb should be tied in bundles.

Sugar-Free – all types of these items are requested often. Please list ingredients on a label and attach them to help the buyer make the right selection.

Other Items – honey, apples, party mix, apple butter, jellies, jams, pickles, popcorn balls and walnuts.

Though there’s snow and cold in winter, April showers and May flowers are right around the corner. Come see us at the Plant Sales Pavilion! Gone are our old tents. Those days of wading through the mud to browse through our flowers and vegetable plants are in the past. Walk a few more steps or drive right up to see is in between the main building and the cattle auction barns.

 

All under roof, we are happy to offer a wide variety of bedding plants at our reasonable prices. Your friends and neighbors will wonder how you have such great plants. Tell them you got it at the Make-and-Take area in the Plant Tent. Items purchased can be kept in our holding area until you are ready to leave. Pay for your plants and then enjoy all the great activities of the Disaster Auction.

 

We appreciate the bounty of your green thumb after you divide your plants. Any healthy houseplants, perennials, flowers or bulbs (such as dahlias, gladiolas, iris, daffodils, cannas, calla lilies, etc.) are always welcome. Young trees and shrubs also sell well. Potting these a few weeks prior to the auction weekend gives the plant a chance to recover and look its best.  Identifying the color of the bloom as well as the type of plant is very helpful. Bring these plants to the tent on Friday as soon as possible after 8 a.m. Plants that are brought in later will not be turned away though.

 

We have the best volunteers, and if interested, we welcome your time and talents. Just contact us! Our volunteers are happy to help select plants, answer any questions, and even arrange some plants! The Plant Tent opens at 1 p.m. on Friday. Sales stop at 8 p.m. that evening and start up on Saturday morning at 8 a.m.

 

Please direct your questions or comments to the chairpersons:

Vicki Richard 540.820.4647 or  vickirich@gmail.com

Chris Riley 540.742.5198

 

The arts and crafts have been a major part of each year’s auction and sales. There are a lot of talented folks in our churches and communities who are willing to donate items. Make it a point to invite folks who have not previously been a part of the auction to participate, as well as those who always participate.

Folks anxiously await the Friday afternoon sale time to purchase craft items. Please encourage your group to begin planning what they will do. Some suggested items to donate for the craft table, the Friday evening auction and the Saturday auction are:  baskets, stools, benches, clocks, crocheted and knitted items, pillows, swings, picnic tables, wooden toys, flower arrangements, wreaths, furniture, bird houses, seasonal items, paintings, pottery, etc. Try something new, the possibilities are endless! Some of the items will be used for the Silent Auctions.

We also need to know what most of the items being donated are in advance in order to have more effective advertising prior to the auction. Some of these items will be featured on Facebook. Get your church folks working! They will be pleased when their item is featured. Just remember we can’t feature that one-of-a-kind or special item if the committee is not aware of what is being donated.

Some churches display the items that are being donated from their congregation prior to auction week. This might encourage others to make something and/or to come to the auction. Perhaps many of the folks in our churches aren’t aware of the good things that are available at the auction, including the great food and good fellowship.

Please note the following reminders concerning arts and crafts:

  1. Items for the craft table must be new. No yard sale or flea market items.
  2. The craft sale will begin at 1 p.m. on Friday and at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
  3. Items need to be brought to the fairgrounds to the craft check-in table on Thursday, May 14 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. or after 8 a.m. on Friday, May 15.
  4. Afghans, comforters and baby blankets should be measured and labeled as to size.
  5. Tag each item with the donor’s name, church affiliation, and any appropriate information.
  6. The arts and crafts chairs, silent auction chairs, outside tent sale chair, along with the auction coordinating committee will determine if the items go on the craft table (priced), or in one of the silent auctions or in the live auction on Friday or Saturday. Some items bring more on the silent auction than going across the stage as they can be seen up close and be fully appreciated.

The Outside Tent Sale will start on Friday at 1 p.m. with all items priced and will close at 8 p.m. The Tent Sale will resume on Saturday morning at 8 a.m. and will continue until all items have been sold.

 

This is not a yard sale so please only donate items that are in good condition, usable and are in working order.  If the committee determines that an item should be auctioned rather than priced, the item will be labeled as such and will be sold in the main auction. Church representatives may want to screen items that are donated to ensure they are of saleable quality.

 

If donating a large item such as a car, truck, trailer, etc., please make the coordinating committee aware of this so it can be advertised on Facebook. 

 

Based on previous auctions and input from auctioneers, listed below are examples of non-usable items. Before donating, consider whether the donation would be an item of interest to someone. Unsold items will be disposed of at the committees option.

 

NON-USUABLE ITEMS

 

Books & Magazines                      Exercise Equipment                     Plastic Toys

Clothing & Shoes                          Large Appliances                          TVs

Computers & Towers                   Non-Working Items                      Upholstered Furniture

Doors & Windows                         Personal Items                              Pianos & Organs

Rain or Shine

Saturday, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Activities such as story time, painting, puzzles, crafts, etc. are planned for the children. Toddlers are welcome to stay for a one-hour period.

We encourage young families with children to come outside and experience these activities under the Big Tent.

Theme Baskets were a rousing success again last year. We are anticipating another great auction this year as we are constantly amazed at the creativity that goes into selecting a theme. Challenge Sunday School Classes, youth groups, women’s and men’s groups, and individuals to create baskets. It is fun and easy!

Almost anything may serve as the basket. In the past, congregations have used portable metal fire pits, coolers, laundry baskets, cardboard boxes, hampers, bushel baskets, flowerpots, metal pails and wash tubs. Let the theme dictate what the basket should be.

Themes range from picnic supplies to family game nights, from baking items to supplies for spa days, from a selection of good books to a basket of vintage movies, and from laundry products to baby items for an expectant mother.

For example, in 2023, a large toolbox loaded with power tools and supplies invoked great interest in auction-goers. In 2019, a metal fire pit theme basket included supplies such as butane lighters, potholders and the fixings to make smores enticed the outdoorsy crowd. Some thoughtful folks even created simple theme baskets with gift cards. The sky is the limit when adopting a theme.

Once a theme has been chosen, handcraft, purchase, or solicit items for the basket. Items for the basket must be new unless the basket has an antique/vintage theme. Place the items into the basket of choice and wrap it with a basket bag, cellophane, or some other see-through covering to hold everything in place.

Each basket should have a value of at least $25. Please label the approximate value of the basket and its contents (this is for our purposes only. We will remove this before the basket is sold) and include a second label with the contents of the basket for the prospective bidders to see. Baskets will be auctioned on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Baskets may be brought to the main exhibition building on Friday or auction week or early Saturday morning.