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Kiwanis Club hosting online auction to replace annual holiday event

By Toni Milbourne - For the Chronicle | Nov 27, 2020

SHEPHERDSTOWN — As holiday plans for Shepherdstown have been modified due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the local Kiwanis Club has followed suit, and developed an online auction in place of their annual cornbread and chili dinner. Typically, scores of individuals would head to the second floor of the War Memorial Building on Friday evening after Thanksgiving to enjoy the delicious tastes of the annual meal. Last year, the event broadened to include a contest for chili makers. But this year, things will look a bit different.

In place of the meal and raffle table, the Kiwanians have scheduled an online auction to run today through Dec. 5. Successful bidders will be able to pick up their purchases on Dec. 6 from 4-5 p.m. at Kohl’s parking lot in Ranson.

According to club secretary Adele Knott, the auction will include themed bags and baskets, Christmas items, chili ingredients and more.

The club members are familiar with how an auction works as they substituted their annual live wine auction with an online version, offering baskets filled with wine and other items in September. That auction proved to be very successful, bringing over $2,500, which the club hopes to repeat with this Christmas auction.

Proceeds from the Christmas auction will benefit the Children’s Department of the Shepherdstown Public Library, as have proceeds from the Christmas event over the past several years.

“We encourage folks to support the Shepherdstown Public Library, and especially the children and youth,” Knott said, explaining that most of the Kiwanis projects focus on youth. “With the new library under construction, the needs will be bigger than ever.”

The library recently broke ground on their new library building, located near the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center on Lowe Drive. The new facility will feature a two-story building, with the Children’s Department and Circulation Desk on the first floor and the Adult Department on the second floor. According to descriptions, there will be a gated amphitheater outside the back of the children’s department, as well as a story garden and patio.

Kiwanis is an international community service organization, focused on encouraging neighborhood fellowship and assisting children locally and around the world. Along with raising funds for Kiwanis International and various local charitable endeavors such as this one, the Shepherdstown chapter of the organization also provides an annual scholarship for a Jefferson High School graduate.

For more information on Shepherdstown Kiwanis Club membership or how to support the club in other ways, contact Knott at 304-258-9135. To view photos of the auction items and to bid, visit the club’s Facebook page.