Annual auction helps fund food bank

The West Shore Food Bank held its annual luncheon and auction last month and now that all of the numbers have been calculated organizers can officially relax and deem this year’s event a success.

Around $9,100 was raised at the event, which was attended by about 400 to 500 people.

“It’s about average. Even with the economy it didn’t fall down,” said Leslie Knuth, West Shore Food Bank director. “I was surprised. I thought we did really well. I was very pleased.”

Mark Vesser, a professional auctioneer called the auction, which included 61 items donated by community members and business owners in the area. Vesser was assisted by Bob Tallman, who served as the announcer.

“Bob Tallman put on an absolutely wonderful show. He’s a world renowned rodeo announcer,” Knuth said. “Mark Vesser is a fantastic auctioneer and he only does volunteer auctions. He doesn’t get paid for any of this and neither does Bob. They are both on a volunteer basis only.”

Knuth said there is a lengthy list of people she is thankful to for helping make the auction possible for what was its fifth year.

“We especially want to thank Barb Coppock for getting all the computer stuff done and all of the posters done for me,” Knuth said. “Also Bill and Larilyn Blomgren (owners of the RV park) who let us have the auction there every year.”

It is one of the biggest ways the food bank acquires funding for its operating budget. That budget includes everything from keeping the lights on in the building to purchasing food items to give to people in need.

“We buy everything for the food bank that we can’t get from national sources,” Knuth said. “We are a smaller food bank so we don’t have anyone to write grants for us. So all the food we get is all through donations.”

Despite a lack of funding, the West Shore Food Bank is still a viable resource because of the efforts of many community members and those willing to help during events like last month’s auction.

“We are so thankful to everyone who came out, everyone that donated and everyone that ate with us,” Knuth said. “Lakeside does such a good job of supporting us and I am so thankful to everyone that came out and got to see the show.”