By Lucie Roy
Morinville – The 15th Annual Live Charity Auction in support of the Midstream Support Society’s Santa Store was held at Coach’s Corner Sports Bar Saturday night. Once again the venue was packed with people arriving as early as 4 p.m. to reserve their seats for the 7 p.m. start. Midstream Support Society President Joyce Preeper said this year’s event raised $21,008, the highest in the auction’s 15-year history. The Santa Store helps less fortunate families in the community have a better Christmas by allowing parents select one major and one minor gift for each of their children.
More than 100 lots were up for bid Saturday night. The highest bid was The Chef for an Evening Gourmet Dinner package, which raised $1,100 in exchange for a five-course meal for eight people prepared by Executive Chef Doug Adsit, owner of the Green Bean. Another item to draw the bucks was a hand-signed framed Bobby Orr collage, which went for $700. Other high-ticket items included a framed 16×20 limited edition photo signed by Edmonton Oilers Taylor Hall and Shawn Horcoff, which sold for $525, and an A&W retro-style pub table and two chairs, which sold for $500.
Two handbags from Mexico donated by realtor Linda Getzlaf drew some interest as they were made from recycled candy wrappers. Getzlaf said it can take from 150 to 4,000 individual candy wrappers and between one and four days for an individual to make one handbag. Because they are handcrafted, no two bags are the same.
In addition to the monies raised at auction, $2,620 in cash donations were received prior to the event, including $2,000 from Alliance Pipeline.
Above: Realtor Linda Getzlaf holds the Tootsie Pop handbag she donated. The item sold for $125 during the auction. – Lucie Roy Photo
