PAWS plans annual dinner/auction
Items from local artists, crafters, businesses, friends and supporters are arriving daily and will all be offered for bids Saturday evening, Nov. 13, at the 17th annual “Auction For Animals."
The auction is being held at the Great Boars Inn on Kratzinger Hollow Road near Anna, with the doors opening at 5 p.m.
Dinner is served from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and is catered by the Great Boars of Fire.
During the evening, silent auction bidding tables will be open. A bucket raffle and door prizes are planned. New sweatshirts and other merchandise will be for sale.
The live auction begins at 7:45 p.m., and once again will be conducted by local “celebrity” auctioneers.
Admission for the evening, including dinner, is $30 for adults, and $12 for children 12 and under.
For more information or to donate an item for the event, stop by PAWS Place or call 618-833-DOGS (3647).
The event is presented by Pets Are Worth Saving Inc., PAWS, a local animal welfare organization, with special guests, Dr. and Mrs. Glenn Poshard.
The Poshards have pledged to match up to $5,000 of the proceeds from this year’s auction and challenges others to "Match The Match."
There are paintings, drawings, prints and other works of art by many local artists, including the late Helen DeGraff, Marilyn Boysen and Paulette Aronson.
There will be a one-of-a-kind, hand made cat theme quilt throw donated by Lori Trentacosti.
Two Cardinal baseball tickets for a 2011 game, four box seat tickets to a game of the winner’s choice donated by the Southern Illinois Miners, Grand Ole Opry tickets donated by WIBH radio station, a handmade free standing red oak wine rack, “pamper yourself packages” from Egyptian Revival Spa, Hepp Chiropractic and Alternative Healthcare in Marion are just a few of the items that will be on the auction block.
Meller, James, & Associates, along with other veterinarians throughout the area, have donated spays and neuters, and premium dog and cat foods.
A Christmas Harry & David gift basket of assorted goodies will be raffled.
The auction will feature bottles of wine from Alto Vineyard and many of the other local vineyards, along with antiques and collectibles from various supporters including Cherished Teddies.
There will be jewelry from Linda Bollenbach-Davis and Lou Ann Elwell, Brian Beverly of the Makanda Trading Company and the Rainmaker.
Items arrive daily as the date of the benefit approaches.
Anna State Bank has given a $100 savings bond while A-J National Bank has donated $250 along with several items for the silent auction.
A handmade afghan from Mary Anna Weakley, and many, many more items will be available to bid on.
All donations and efforts go toward supporting PAWS’ rescue and humane work, particularly the operation of their no-kill facility, PAWS Place Adoption Center. The center is located at 139 E. Vienna St., in Anna.
Over 3,700 homeless, abandoned and unwanted animals have been placed in new homes since PAWS opened the facility in 2001. Donations and other forms of support from the community help to keep the adoption center in operation.