Burstall pulls off another successful auction
By Joan Janzen
The community of Burstall held their annual community supper and auction on Saturday evening, February 24th, at the Burstall & District Community Complex. Funds from the event go towards the ongoing maintenance and operating costs of the community complex, swimming pool, arena, curling rink and golf course.
This is the second year Colleen Bodnarchuk and her husband, Owen Wittig, coordinated the charity auction. Owen is the president of the hall board and was the MC for the evening.
There was an abundance of good food and really great auction items available at the Burstall supper and charity auction on Saturday evening. Photo by Joan Janzen
The night began with a delicious roast beef supper arranged by Diane Hoffart and her capable crew of local workers. “Diane has convened the meal for years,” Colleen explained. They were pleased to sell nearly all of the 150 available tickets.
The coordinators accumulated 75 items for the live auction and approximately 35 silent auction items. The estimated value of all the donations was $30,000. John Baier, an auctioneer from Swift Current, conducted the live auction. John works for Donnie Peacock and volunteered his time for the evening.
The biggest item up for bids was a 4-piece patio set valued at about $1200. There were also Moose Jaw Spa getaways, a kid’s motorbike, plush camping chairs and a 54-inch wall-mounted electric fireplace. “People are always very generous,” Colleen said.
There are always a few fun items thrown in for the live auction. “Cinnamon buns often go for $500 or $600 a dozen, and last year pickled eggs went for $800,” Colleen chuckled. “One year, we auctioned a single cinnamon bun for $100.” At this year’s auction two ladies from the community each donated a homemade dinner for four.
A group of willing volunteers helped make the evening a complete success. The Lions Club worked the bar, along with people working at the door, others selling 50/50 tickets, as well as a volunteer who was on hand to help out the auctioneer.
Not only do the funds raised provide for operating costs of facilities in the community, but it also provided a lot of fun and good food for everyone who attended.