Holiday dinner auction to help Beach kids
The kids of Fort Myers Beach will have plenty under their trees this year, thanks to the work of a local charity.
The Beach Kids Foundation will host its 19th annual dinner auction on Friday, Dec. 7, at the DiamondHead Resort to raise funds for their upcoming year of charity programs.
“The Spirit of the Holidays we’ve been doing since the early ’90s,” said Fran Myers, former chair of the foundation. “It’s gotten so big that we had to move it to DiamondHead this year.”
The new venue allows for the sale of 180 tickets priced at $100 each.
Current chair Linda Beasley estimates there are about 20 left, and they’re selling fast.
“We’re going to have a Chinese auction, we’re going to have two surprises that we’re not allowed to say, and we’re going to have a live auction,” she said. “And Diamondhead will do an amazing job with the food.”
The dinner auction provides the majority of the foundation’s funding for the year.
Beasley said the foundation broke its scholarship record this year, giving out a total of $18,000.
Businesses on the beach are very generous in donating items for the auction, she said.
Up for grabs this year are two signed guitars, one by Tanya Tucker, and a second by singers from the Grand Ole Opry.
Other items to be auctioned off include hotel stays, jewelry from Tiffany’s, Waterford crystal, and several bicycles.
Proceeds from the dinner will fund scholarships for seniors in high school and buy Christmas presents for kids at Beach Elementary.
“What the kids do is they write a wish list. We fill those wish lists, and the fire department co-sponsors it with us. A couple nights before Christmas, the firemen line all the stuff up and we go door-to-door to deliver all the gifts with the lights blaring and the horns going. It’s pretty cool,” said Myers.
Many people think their wish lists are full of toys, she explained, but that’s not always the case.
It’s not uncommon for kids to ask for essentials like coats, shoes, and comforters.
“The firemen actually delivered twin beds one year. We put those on the truck, and when we got there, the kids were sleeping on the floor,” said Myers.
She expects the need to be even greater now, as many parents that work in the service industry took a financial hit this year because of red tide’s impact on the local economy.
“I can’t tell you the look on those parents’ faces when those firemen come. It’s incredible,” said Myers.
“I tell everybody that gives, if you really want to see what happens, come and ride the truck, or come and go in one of the cars and follow it. Watch the kids’ faces and you’ll see it’s worth it.”
Beasley rode along on the fire truck for the first time last year.
“I was dressed up as Mrs. Claus, it was amazing,” she said.
But be prepared for a long evening, Myers warned. It takes the firefighters about three hours and two full loads of presents.
For those who can’t make the dinner auction, the foundation hosts a $5 pancake breakfast on Dec 1 from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Red Coconut RV Park, where they will also be accepting donations.
The breakfast will include pancakes, sausage, and orange juice, all prepared by the town’s own firefighters.
On Dec 18, they will host a gift-wrapping party at the Red Coconut, where an estimated 50 people will volunteer to wrap presents for the beach kids.
This year the foundation will be working with the Lion’s Club, Kiwanis, and the Women’s Club, which will be hosting a toy drop-off and a Christmas tree auction.
Tickets to the dinner auction on Dec 7 can be purchased from Century 21 Tripower at 2001 Estero Blvd, the Red Coconut RV Park at 3001 Estero Blvd, or by calling Linda Beasley at 239-980-9661. Cocktail hour will begin at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m.