Who’ll give me a hundred dollars? One hundred dollar bid, now two, now two, will ya give me two? How about 150, will that help ya?
The familiar chant of the auctioneer could be heard for hours at the Fife Lake Hotel on February 27, the date of the annual Kinsmen Telemiracle Auction.
Lawson and Gail Harkness, owners of the Fife Lake Hotel, have hosted the event for 18 years and the money and donations keep rolling in.
Hundreds of items donated by local business and residents were auctioned off over an eight hour span.
Auctioneers, Randy Gaudry and Mason Richaud, took turns on the microphone and helping Johnny Lemieux out with the spotting duties.
In charge of the receipts were the Coronach Kinsmen and Kinettes, issuing official Telemiracle receipts for successful bidders.
Items for the auction were donated by businesses and individuals from Assiniboia, Rockglen, Fife Lake, Coronach, Willow Bunch and area.
The items were as varied as the people that donated them. Baking and canning, clothing, artwork, rugs, lanterns, shampoo. . . you name it, it was on the table at the auction.
Successful bidders took home six homemade cinnamon buns for $25 or baggies of beef jerky for $80. $25 gift certificates were sold for $75 and items that had trouble getting their first bid, would get caught up in a friendly bidding war and yield the auction hundreds of dollars in the end.
Kathy Hammel, from Coronach, has attended the auction for many years.
“We always go every year to support the cause and it is a fun time. We usually buy something every year, different things and different amounts,” said Hammel.
This year’s total reached over $13,700. Although the total was short of the record breaking $14,050.00 from 2010, it is well above the $10,000 total of 2009.
Gail was very happy with the support given to their event. “This is our 18th year at it and it turns out better every year, almost. We appreciate all of the donations and everybody coming out. As long as I am still here, we will see everybody next year!”
