Wreath Auction set for December 10

Each year local residents come together to build wreaths for the Whitehall Christmas Stroll Wreath Auction. In its 18th year, the event serves as not only a fundraiser for the Whitehall Food Pantry, but also raises thousands of dollars for numerous local non-profit organizations.

The 2016 event will take place December 10 starting at 7 p.m. at the Community Center.

The Christmas Stroll Wreath Auction is sponsored by the Whitehall Saddle Club, who uses the popular event as a way to give back to the community for all their help and support throughout the year.

"We are doing this as a community service," Saddle Club member Lara Engler said. "I love that we are helping the food pantry and local organizations in town."

Local residents make all the wreaths, and 100 percent of the money each wreath makes in the auction is distributed to local non-profits as earmarked by the maker.

Engler said if a wreath designated for Liberty Place sells for $20, then Liberty Place will get $20.

In 2015, the auction raised over $10,000 that benefited local organizations such as 4 Paws Animal Rescue, Jefferson Valley Hospice, Liberty Place, Pool Pals Inc., Rock Mountain Hospice, Rocky Mountain Rascals 4-H Club, Star Youth Fund, Super Stars 4-H Club, Whitehall Volunteer Fire Department, Whitehall Garden Club, Whitehall Girls Scouts, Whitehall Little Guy Wrestling, Whitehall High School Senior Class, Whitehall Rotary Club and many more.

Engler added the only way the Saddle Club profits from the event is if a wreath maker designates them as the non-profit to receive the money earned.

Wreaths can be dropped off December 9 at the Community Center between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The wreaths will be displayed December 10 throughout the Christmas Stroll. The community will vote on wreaths via donations of nonperishable food items (one can equals one vote), or by buying tickets at the wreath viewing area for $1 apiece of six for $5.

Saddle Club President Lonna Johnson said all money and food collected would be donated to the Whitehall Food Pantry.

As a result of the event, each year several pickup trucks of food are dropped off at the Whitehall Food Pantry just in time for the Holidays.

A ticket will be given for each food item donated, and tickets will be collected at each of the wreaths. The top-three wreaths with the highest number of tickets, or votes, will receive a prize from the Whitehall Saddle Club.

The auction will have the added benefit of a silent auction, which will work as follows: All wreath voters will have the option of placing a silent auction bid. At the end of the day on Dec. 10 (6 p.m.) the "votes" (canned food donations) will be tallied. The top 40 wreaths will be set aside for the live auction.

If any of the top 40 wreaths have silent auction bids, then the live auction will start at that bid amount.

All other wreaths (assuming there are more than 40 wreaths) will be sold to the highest silent bid determined at the 6 p.m. vote counting. Winners of the silent auction bids will then be able to pick up their wreath(s) at the Community Center at 6:30 p.m.

So, get working on those wreaths and watch for more information on the wreath auction and the Christmas Stroll. For more information, call Lonna at 287-3037, Bridget Morse at 490-0645, or Engler at 498-7501.

Also, those who are unable to drop off their wreaths between 5 and 7 p.m. on Dec. 11 can call to arrange a different time.