Epworth UMC Christmas Joy! 365 silent auction set Oct. 17 and 18
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 by providing funds for personal items (eyeglasses, newborn needs, school supplies); youth programs (scholarships, transportation); housing assistance (rental deposits, rehab projects, utilities) as well as continuing the tradition of the 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. 17 and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 18, in Epworth’s Fellowship Hall, 19285 Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth Beach. Visitors can stop by before or after the Jazz Festival. 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., Sunday.
The church community, local merchants and service providers generously donate silent auction items such as restaurant and spa gift certificates, golf and travel packages, theater tickets, home décor, art, Christmas decorations, fashion and jewelry, toys, household items, garden and garage 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.
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, Delaware Guidance Services and Epworth’s Caring Ministry. 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 will be turned over to the shopping elves to finish purchasing gifts as well as grocery items and food gift cards for each family’s Christmas food basket. Then comes the sorting and wrapping of nearly 2,000 items with delivery to the families before Christmas arrives. For more information, call 302-227-7743 Ext. 116 or go to www.eumcrb.org.
