GREENFIELD — Hoping to lend support to the community, Will Campbell and hundreds of other local residents helped the United Way of Franklin County’s 17th annual auction raise $37,000.
“I’m a strong supporter of the community, and the United Way supports our community,” said Campbell of Greenfield, who has attended the charity’s annual auction for four years.
United Way Director of Resource Development and Community Engagement Stephanie Gale said the auction attracted 240 guests this year, with tickets for the Nov. 18 event selling out by early November. The organization’s $37,000 of fundraising remained steady with last year’s figures.
“We’re thrilled,” Sandy Sayers, United Way’s executive director, said prior to the auction. “The auction has always been a fun and successful event for the United Way of Franklin County. In the last four years, we have doubled attendance and the amount of money that we raise!”
The auction began at 6:30 p.m. in Greenfield Community College’s dining commons and featured more than 200 items, from tickets to Springfield Thunderbirds’ games, a week’s stay in Stowe, Vt., and $1,000 Southwest Airlines gift cards.
Other items included paintings, gift certificates to numerous area businesses, photographs, pottery, fabric arts and jewelry.
“There really is something for everyone,” said Tim Farrell, a Greenfield resident who started coming to the auction 15 years ago, when it was held at Eaglebrook School in Deerfield. “There’s items for kids, for art enthusiasts, for wine enthusiasts, for vacationers.”
Lauri Olson-Porter of South Deerfield has attended the auction for at least six years. She appreciates finding “excellent quality” handcrafted goods.
“It’s to support such a worthwhile cause,” she added.
A desire to support the United Way is what attracted many of the guests.
“It’s a wonderful event for a great organization that does a lot of great things for Franklin County,” Farrell said.
All the money raised will contribute to the Community Care Fund, which supports the United Way’s partner agencies, such as Greenfield’s YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Community Action.
Part of the event’s success has come from introducing “table sponsorships” at the cost of $250 for a table of eight, Sayers said. Gale said this year’s auction had 25 sponsored tables, up from 18 last year.
“I think it went really well,” Gale said of this year’s auction. “People had a really good time, the food was really good and it was just nice to come together and support the community.”