Kiwanis Club of Shepherdstown President Kim Walls, along with two young helpers, show some of the items being auctioned off by Densil Nibert at Wildwood Middle School on Friday evening. Toni Milbourne

SHENANDOAH JUNCTION — After two years of only holding auction fundraisers online, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Shepherdstown Kiwanians returned last week to the live auction format that had previously been their tradition for more than 15 years.

A packed house gathered at Wildwood Middle School to participate in the 19th Annual Children’s Benefit Auction, bidding for a variety of items, including a week-long vacation in Garden City, S.C. that sold for $900. The addition of those funds brought the evening’s live auction proceeds to just under $4,000. In addition to the live auction, a silent auction was held as well.

Funds raised by the Kiwanis Club will help support and encourage area youth through multiple organizations. Many of the club’s fundraising efforts benefit those youth in the club’s sponsored leadership programs, which include the Circle K of Shepherd University, the Key Club of Jefferson High School, The Builders Club of Wildwood Middle School and the K-Kids of T.A. Lowery Elementary School.

The Kiwanis Club also supports the Shepherdstown Day Care Center, the Eastern Panhandle Care Pregnancy Center and the Jefferson County 4-H Association, as well as presenting an annual scholarship to a local high school student who plans to attend Shepherd University. That scholarship is given in memory of Kiwanis Club of Shepherdstown Charter Member Paul M. Saab.

The club’s efforts don’t stop with local philanthropy — it also supports the Children’s Miracle Network Center Operation Christmas Child, Relay for Life and the Kiwanis International project, ELIMINATE-striving to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus around the globe, by paring with UNICEF.

Kiwanis Club of Shepherdstown President Kim Walls gets a little help in drawing a 50/50 winner from two of the youngest Kiwanis supporters at Wildwood Middle School, during Friday evening's auction event. Toni Milbourne

The auction spanned two hours of live bidding, as auctioneer Densil Nibert donated his services to facilitate the event, as he has for many years in the past. Nibert took a turn bidding on one item himself, securing a homemade apple pound cake contributed by Linda Osbourn.

“I’ve been buying her cake every year that I’ve done the auction! She even baked one and delivered it to my office when I opened it in Ranson,” he laughed.

Among items on the auction block were various flowering baskets, several themed baskets and performance tickets at such venues as Sight & Sound Theatres and Shepherd University. Baskets filled with WVU goodies, gift cards and candles, wine and artwork were all available.

The Kiwanis Club of Shepherdstown was chartered on July 11, 1978. Members meet the second and fourth Thursdays of every month at Christ Reformed United Church of Christ on 304 East German Street in Shepherdstown. The group is always looking for new members. Those interested in community service and great fellowship are encouraged to contact president Kim Walls at 304-676-3969.