In a bid to raise funds to support the community, United Way HPE has launched their first ever virtual auction featuring a little something for everyone. The Local Love Virtual Auction event will run from November 23 – December 15 and will support the United Way HPE fundraising campaign.
Recognizing that small businesses are typically the ones that support a silent auction, the organization took a new approach to securing items for bidding without taxing small business. “In addition to some incredible experiences up for grabs, we asked the community to sponsor items that we could purchase from small business, and as usual, this community responded in a big way” said Brandi Hodge, Executive Director. “We were able to purchase items from over 30 different locally owned small businesses with those sponsorships and their wares are now for sale on our virtual auction. It really was a win/win.”
Items such as cottage rentals, sunset cruises on beautiful pleasure crafts, ski chalet accommodation, a kayak, gift cards to numerous restaurants, spa packages to name a few – there is literally something for everyone. Community members can visit the United Way HPE website at https://unitedwayhpe.ca/virtualauction/ to access the auction and do some Christmas shopping while they’re there.
“Your bids will help support over 60 local programs funded through the 2020 Local Love Response to Recovery Campaign.” said Inspector Sheri Meeks, United Way HPE Campaign Chair, “and if you want to get to know our new police chief Mike Callaghan a little better, he’s even auctioning off a salmon fishing trip on Lake Ontario.”
United Way HPE continues to track slightly ahead of last year at the same time with more than half of the campaign to still report; they have just crossed the $850,000 mark this week and are counting on the success of the virtual auction to press them closer to the $1 million milestone.
