OLDS — Kiwanis Club of Olds treasurer Jack Fewster says this year’s Kiwanis auction brought in the second most money he can recall in his eight years in the club.
“We should realize about $25,000 when all the expenses have been paid,” he said during an interview with the Albertan.
He said the largest amount raised occurred in 2022 when about $28,000 was raised.
“The businesses were very cooperative and we certainly appreciate what they give to us, because we know there’s someone knocking on the door every day, looking for handouts and support in some way or the other,” Fewster said.
The Kiwanis Club of Olds has been conducting auctions in conjunction with Rosehill Auction Services for 58 years.
“A lot of the businesses have probably been with us for most of those years,” Fewster said. “We always get a few new ones and we appreciate anything they can give us; big or small.”
Until a few years ago, the Kiwanis club auctions were held in person. When COVID restrictions came in, the auction began to be held online via Rosehill Auction Services.
The online version has proven even more lucrative than the live one.
Fewster said that’s because online, the auctions not only get eyeballs locally, but right across the entire country.
“We had our doubts, but we were proven wrong. Online auctions have been just outstanding,” he said.
“It widens our base. When we had the live auctions at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #105, we could accommodate 120, 150 people at the most, and it was a lot of the same people every year.
“But now when the auction starts you’ve got a base of about 5,000 people.”
All the money raised goes for many great local causes. Fewster figures that’s why the auction gets such a great response.
“We support pretty much anything that’s youth oriented,” he said.
“We just finished putting up the warming shack at the outdoor (rink) so hopefully we can get some cool weather, get some ice on the rink and start using that.
“The music festival’s coming up; we put money into that every year. The playgrounds around town are used year ‘round.”
Fewster was amazed how well the auction did this year – how generous people were. He noted that some items were sold for double, or nearly double, what they pegged to be worth.
He said some $25 gift cards for local restaurants were sold for up to $40. A gift card for a bakery worth $50 went for $110.
“So like I say, the people, they get behind the auction,” Fewster said.
“Sometimes you get on the auction site and it’s addicting to start bidding,” he added with a short laugh. “It’s almost like the live auction when you sit down.”
Fewster was asked if he was concerned that this year’s auction may not go well, given the fact some people just don’t have much extra spending money in today’s economy.
“Well you know, you’re always concerned at the start of things how it’s going to go, but once you start handing out the letters and talking to the businesses you know that they’re fully supportive of what the Kiwanis do in the community,” Fewster said.
He expressed his gratitude to a local retired businessman who allowed the club to store auction items in a bay of a big building he owns.
