ESTEVAN — United Way Estevan is calling for local talents to donate any and all kinds of handmade items for its telethon bid items silent auction.
The 48th annual United Way Estevan Telethon – themed You Are the Community – will take place at the Estevan Royal Canadian Legion hall on Oct. 18-19.
The auction, featuring handmade pieces, will help the United Way reach its goal of $348,000, money to be used to support local member agencies and community impact projects.
United Way Estevan auction committee member Jacie Vandermeulen said there is quite a bit of interest in submitting bid items for the auction, but they are always open for more.
The goal is to have about 100 pieces.
"For our auction, we can use pretty much anything homemade. In the past couple of years, it's been from individuals or even some small local businesses. And it can be anything from artwork, quilts, jewelry, crocheted or knitted items. We've had a lot of woodwork and metal sculptures in the past," Vandermeulen said, listing some of the bid items. "We like to get some unique things."
The committee always tries to attract new creators to have a variety of bid items.
The auction will be similar to last year, with bid items featured ahead of time on the United Way Estevan 2024 Bid Items Facebook page, and displayed at the legion hall during the event. Bidding will occur during the telethon, both online and in-person at the legion.
In the weeks leading up to the telethon, bid items will also be displayed at Murray GM in Estevan for people to view.
The Exploding Heart quilt that was donated to the United Way Estevan Telethon by the Hearts and Hands Quilt Guild will also be raffled off during the event, with proceeds going towards the total. Linda Jones with the guild said three members were working on the quilt periodically for about a month and a half.
"One of our guild members had done [a similar quilt] in a different colour, and we decided we would do it, but do it [a bit different]," Jones said.
Tickets for the quilt raffle are $2 each or three for $5. The draw will take place during the telethon on Oct. 19.
Jones was selling raffle tickets at the Estevan Farmers' Market. She also hopes to display it, selling raffle tickets, a few more times in the community. It will then be on display at Henders Drugs until it's moved to the legion for the telethon.
The RM of Estevan has raffle tickets at the front counter. Vandermeulen also has tickets available at her office at Rooted Family Chiropractic. Tickets also will be available during the telethon on Oct. 18-19.
If someone would like to donate a homemade item for the auction, they can call or text Vandermeulen at 306-421-3900 or contact any United Way Estevan board member.
"Thank you [to everyone who donates to our auction]. We really appreciate it. We like this bid auction because everything's homemade, so it's really cool to see and showcase all the talent that we have in Estevan and surrounding areas," Vandermeulen said.
