Do something nice for someone this week

Published 2:08 am Friday, October 3, 2008

This past year I have golfed, dined out, rented movies, sipped lattes

and gotten pumped up. I have lived this full life of leisure because I am a

kind and giving person. OK, you can stop laughing now. Truly, I have

enjoyed all of the activities while directly benefiting our community because

local businesses like Sno-Falls Golf Course, Ixtapa’s, Video Factory,

Sandy’s, Jazzercise of Carnation and almost every other business in the Lower

Valley have donated their products and services to the Boot Scootin’

Auction sponsored by the Tolt Congregational Church.

Now in its fifth year, the auction has changed its theme but not its

goal to raise funds for a bunch of great local programs. Combine two of my

favorite things, self indulgence and a good cause, and I will come

running. The church volunteers have donated endless hours to the fund raising

and preparation for this event. There is a dinner, silent auction, live auction,

live music and kids’ activities, all to benefit Habitat for Humanity of East

King County, The Sno-Valley Senior Center, Carnation Multi-Service

Center Food Bank, Children’s Services of Sno-Valley and an emergency

assistance fund known as the Good Neighbor Fund, among other

worthwhile organizations.

Above all, it is a hootin’ good time. This year’s event will be at

Carnation Elementary, Saturday on Oct. 23. You can call (425) 333-4254 for

tickets. The theme is “Under the Big

Top.” The dinner will be chicken, baked

potato and salad, coffee and juice. The volunteers are planning a magician

for entertainment, midway for kids, and live music by Jack Ballard.

Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for kids. All proceeds raised go directly to the

programs. We do pay for expenses like food and the hall rental.

Starting at 6 p.m. you can peruse the donated new and used goodies.

For those who the Reverend Spencer refers to as the “non-competitive

shoppers,” there is a bake sale that will add five inches to your thighs just by

wandering by. I have also acquired some great craft items including a

beautiful handmade baby quilt that is so exquisite I have no intention of letting a

real live baby slobber on it.

Some of the items in the past that have induced people to riot include

the homemade “bread of the month” basket donated by Shirley Patterson.

Last year’s chocolate lover’s basket caused such a frenzy that some people are

still licking their wounds. I have seen grown men duel to the death with

pencils over an auction of the services of a professional … electrician, that

is. This is a church-sponsored event.

I got a great deal on a two months of Jazzercise that included a shirt,

coffee cup and a bunch of other goodies. Unfortunately, it did not include

coordination, but it was a great way to try something new without a huge

investment of time or money. The idea is to let your good sense fly out

the door and bid with wild abandon on anything your little heart desires.

The auction has raised about $5,000 per year, and I know we can do better

than that.

If you have never been to a silent auction, they work something like

this. Once you enter, you get number. You roam around the commons looking

at all of the cool stuff you can buy if you are swift of pencil. Next to each

item is a sheet of paper. Just write down your number and your bid

amount, and elbow anyone out of the way who wants to top your bid.

The bidding continues until at a predetermined time the table

is “closed” to new bids. Each closing is accompanied by a count down, and

I mean to tell you, things can get a little “un-Christ like” as the

seconds dwindle. Nevertheless, the power of prayer and a ready pencil have

ensured many a last minute bid. Ok, I exaggerate a little, but it is all in fun.

In addition to the silent auction, there is a live auction. One of the

items up for bid is a complete back yard salmon barbecue. There will also be

a few mystery items in the live auction. You bid on a balloon and if you

win you get to pop the balloon and find out what all your hard-earned

cash bought.

This is one of the best ways to spend an evening with your

neighbors and raise some much-needed dough for the great programs in our

community.

We need to be generous in our support of these programs because but

for the grace of God, there go us all.

Kate Russell lives between Carnation and Duvall. You can reach

her by e-mail at Katemo1@msn.com