WEYBURN - The Young Fellows Club of Weyburn is now preparing for their 65th annual fundraising auction, their biggest fundraiser of the year.
The auction will go live on Friday, May 13 at 9 a.m., and bidding will end on Friday, May 27 at 7 p.m.
As of Monday afternoon, the auction had 285 items up for bid, but auction chair Shane Warner noted this is a moving number, as more items are still coming in to go up for auction.
The items range from the unusual, such as an autographed Riders jersey from George Reed, a propane barbecue set or a half-hour flight over Tatagwa Marsh, to household items, small appliances and gift certificates from restaurants and businesses, and facilities like the Weyburn Golf Club and the Credit Union Spark Centre. The club notes they have enjoyed much success since moving the auction online, as it began as a radio auction, then ran as a TV auction for many years before going online. This auction format allows the club to realize better value for the donated items.
“We understand that economic times have changed, but our community has helped us with great success over the years knowing that we follow our motto of ‘We Serve’ and with that our supporters know we are giving our monies directly back to the community,” said Warner. The online auction had over 33,000 page views in 2021.
The Young Fellows presently have over 50 members, and over their 100-year history, they have donated over $2 million back into the community of Weyburn.
Some of the projects the Young Fellows have contributed to include the spray park in Don Mitchell Park in 2007, and the Don Mitchell Paddling Pool in 2016. Other notable donations include Tatagwa View Long Term Care Hospital, play equipment at the Don Mitchell playground, and the Wor-Kin shop.
Ongoing recipients of funding include numerous youth sports teams, arts and culture programs, education scholarships, The Family Place, Red Cross swimming lessons, the May Clay program, free public skating, Inclusion Weyburn, the Weyburn Hospital Foundation, Care-A-Van Society, and many more.
A quick link to this year’s auction is already set up on the Young Fellows website by clicking on the Visit Auction button.
