Our second (which might become an ‘annual’) auction happened this past Monday, October 4. Here is a brief report about our evening:
Over 220 guests in attendance
Over 150 Silent Auction items
16 Live Auction Items
70+ volunteers
We raised just over $20,000!
Greg Paul, author of God in the Alley and The Twenty Piece Shuffle, spoke passionately about the role people caught in poverty can play in our lives. Drawing principals from Isaiah 58, Greg challenged the audience to a higher, truer form of worship and engagement of people who are experiencing poverty and homelessness. Personal interaction stories from his own community, Sanctuary, in downtown Toronto, provided concrete illustrations of how we can achieve community that embraces all levels of social and economic strata.
Dave Smith, with credentials too numerous to mention, did an outstanding performance as our auctioneer. Many of our guests commented on how the entire evening was such a positive and enriching experience.
One of the highlights of the Silent Auction was the collection of art that was donated by the youth in our Passion for Youth art program. Kids who are part of the program donated their own pieces of art to help support the work of OIM. Tremendous! Five of the kids attended the program, and enjoyed being a part of our evening. Hats off to you kids!
To crystallize the evening into one word, I would choose ‘fun’. People really enjoyed themselves: people were talking, interacting and laughing. At the same time, we were challenged with the reality of homelessness in a country wrapped in wealth. It was definitely a win-win-win situation.
To those who participated by volunteering, attending, providing auction items, baking delicious desserts, staff and board – thank you very, very much.
We are already thinking about our auction next year.
Thanks for your support!