“Spirit” auction dinner raises hopes through benefit
Many less fortunate children and families will be the recipients of some good old-fashioned holiday cheer this year.
— ‘Tis the season for giving on Fort Myers Beach.
The Beach community was out in full force at the Spirit of the Holidays benefit dinner and auction at South Beach Grille on Tuesday, Dec. 6. A full house of Beach residents, business people, Beach fire fighters and committee members gathered for a bistro-style dinner, live auction, silent auction and a 50/50 raffle to raise funds and make Christmas a little more special for those without holiday gifts.
The Spirit of the Holidays, a non-profit committee from the Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, raised $13,600 at the dinner auction to help less fortunate children have a meaningful Christmas this year. The committee raises money through the auction’s activities, private donations, grants and generous giving’s by concerned business and individuals. Its 2011 goal is $16,000.
The live auction, led by Auctioneer Rick Gallo of Gulf Coast Coin & Jewelry Brokers, Inc., brought in more than $10,000 alone on 25 winning bids. Seventeen people also contributed $25 donations for an additional $425.
“Last year, we collected enough money to not only give all the kids what their desires were, but to put some in the bank in case any child needed a jacket or pair of shoes during the year,” said Fran Myers, the foundation’s chairwoman. She recognized all of the committee members and fire fighters for their contributions.
Gallo, with help from Chamber member Celeste Hug, who gave descriptions of each item before the bids began, worked the crowd for higher bids.
A one-week stay at Roxie Smith’s Beach cottage was the highest priced live auction item with a winning bid of $1,000. Other top auction items included a “Wheel Barrel of Booze” for $725; a 100-lottery ticket tree for $500; three-day, two-night resort getaways (including Sanibel Harbour Resort, $550; Pink Shell Resort, $525; Gullwing Resort, $450; DiamondHead Beach Resort Relaxication, $450); and two prepared dinners for 4-6 guests by fire fighters at the Beach Fire Department, which went for $675 and $575 respectively.
The charitable arm of the FMB Chamber Foundation also held a Spirit Pancake Breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Red Coconut RV Park. The event featured the local Beach fire fighters and Red Coconut staff cooking a breakfast feast and the K-Kids, a youth club of current Beach school fifth graders sponsored by the Beach Kiwanis, helping with the seating of the hungry customers.
Today, many volunteers will gather at Red Coconut for a Gift Wrapping Party. Then, on Friday, Dec. 23, the FMB Fire District will gather their service vehicles to deliver the gifts to those who have sent in their requests. Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and at least one of the elves will be riding on the lead fire truck.
Beach Elementary School Principal Larry Wood thanked the Chamber Foundation, Renee Mulloy, his administrative secretary, and Spirit of the Holidays Chairperson Amy Jane Mellott for their hard work in collecting applications from the recipients and coordinating the events to make each child’s Christmas holiday a little merrier.
“Those two people are the one that get the gifts and find the people who are need,” said Wood. “Five years ago, 18 percent of our kids were on a free/reduced lunch program. That number is now up to 50 percent. The economy has been devastating, as you all well know. Your pledges tonight will help make a difference in the lives of those kids.”
FMB Chamber Chairman Andrew Cochrane then asked Principal Wood to pick out the winning ticket for the 50/50 raffle. That amount brought in an additional $275.
“I want to thank everyone for coming out,” said Cochrane. “We’re able to help out in what should be one of the happiest times of the year.”