Epworth UMC Christmas Joy! 365 Silent Auction Oct. 18 and 19
Epworth United Methodist Church has reached out for more than a decade to provide a more joyful Christmas to families in the Cape Henlopen School District. Beginning in fall 2012, Christmas Joy! 365 was created to assist families throughout the year. It provides funds for personal items like eyeglasses, newborn needs and school supplies; youth programs include scholarships and transportation; housing assistance with rental deposits, rehab projects and utilities, and the traditional Christmas Holiday Family Mission, which will provide 80 families with clothing and toys for the children, and a Christmas dinner food basket.
The major fundraiser for this year-round program is the annual Silent Auction which will be held from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 19. Lunch hosted by the Epworth Kitchen Soup Bar will be available. The silent-auction bids will be tallied and announced at 1:30 p.m.
The church community, local merchants and service providers generously donate items to the Silent Auction such as restaurant and spa gift certificates, golf and travel packages, theater tickets, home décor, art, Christmas decorations, fashion and jewelry, toys, household items and a variety of gift baskets. Also, services such as hair and nails, lawn care, house cleaning, computer, auto detailing and pet services as well as art and music lessons will be offered.
A sample of some of the special items up for bid are 2015 season tickets for two to Clear Space Theatre; Redskins vs. Eagles tickets for two with parking pass; a sandpiper stained-glass design; cloth luggage set; a framed, crewel-stitched Noah’s Ark; a child activity table; a plush wooden rocking horse; a recliner; certificates for bus trips to New York City on Nov. 29 and the Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival April 11; and a two-night stay at the Bryce Resort in Virginia.
The proceeds of the silent auction are used to meet each family’s request for assistance as given to the Cape Henlopen School District’s visiting teacher and homeless liaisons as well as West Rehoboth Youth Program and Delaware Guidance. These wishes appear as gift tags on the Giving Tree for adoption by the congregation and community.
In early December, the tags remaining on the Giving Tree are turned over to the shopping elves to finish purchasing the gifts as well as the grocery items and food gift cards for the family’s Christmas food basket. Then comes the sorting and wrapping of nearly 2,000 items with delivery to the families before Christmas arrives.
The public is invited to participate in the Christmas Joy! 365 Silent Auction fundraiser in Epworth’s Fellowship Hall, 19285 Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth Beach. Go to www.eumcrb.org for more information, or call the church office at 302-227-7743, Ext. 116.
