By Michael Rheinheimer
This year’s Lions Club Fall Festival’s auction is again expected to provide a large windfall to the organization.
Auction co-organizer Jennifer Blandford said past auctions have brought in more than $20,000 for the club. She expects a similar total this year.
“We are going to have it open in the shelter house during Saturday in the park, from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m.,” Blandford said.
This year, the bidding also will be conducted online at qtego.net/qlink/zlc. People can text “Lions” to 79230 to have a link texted to them. Bidding will be open in-person and online until 6 p.m. Sept. 7.
A wide variety of items is up for grabs.
“We have a trip from Wyndham (and) all kinds of gift certificates to local restaurants and businesses,” Blandford said. “We will have autographed memorabilia and all kinds of wine. Wine is a huge seller. We also will have our famous safari trip to South Africa.”
Blandford said auction proceeds will be reinvested into the park.
“We do upgrades to different things all the time,” she said. “From the playground to the electrical system to the bathrooms, this money has done everything. The very first year that we did it was for playground equipment. It all goes right back to the park.”
Blandford said the auction is the biggest component of the festival, which as a whole is the club’s largest annual fundraiser.
The club will take donations for the auction until Sept. 6.
“We never have too much of anything. I’d love some jewelry,” Blandford said. “I love handcrafts. Handmade quilts and birdhouses, that kind of stuff is really popular.”
Donations can be dropped at Blandford’s office, Carpenter Realtors at 5 N Main St. in Zionsville.
