The fall fundraiser for Elmira District Community Living (EDCL) is coming back for its 39 consecutive year culminating year-long preparations by organizers.
Elmira’s Annual Quilt Auction and Country Market, set for Oct. 26 and 27, will offer visitors a chance to bid on handcrafted quilts and an assortment of other products sold at the auction on Saturday.
“Without question it is our biggest fundraiser – we generally net over $60,000 with this event. It’s absolutely critical to the work that the board does. They’re the fundraising arm and the auction is huge for us,” said EDCL finance officer Gale Bartlett Wednesday.
The non-profit organization founded in 1961 supports people with intellectual disabilities through education and transportation services as well as employment support.
Though much of the organization’s work is funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services, Bartlett said there are many reasons why the coming two-day event is crucial to future services.
“There are always things that [the ministry] can’t provide for like our fleet of vans that we have on the roads. We use the funds to purchase specialized equipment, vans, that sort of thing that the ministry doesn’t support. We’ve used it to build group homes, that kind of thing,” she explained.
Committee members responsible for fundraising efforts spend all year preparing and start collecting quilts as well as other objects for auction approximately three months prior to the event. During this time volunteers also canvas for early donations.
Prospective buyers can get a preview of the quilts to be auctioned during the weekend event by visiting the Woolwich Township administration building or the EDCL office on 118 Barnswallow Dr. where quilt displays are available to the public.
The two-day auction and market will be held at Riverdale Poultry Express at 6811 Church St. W. It starts Oct. 26. A community night event will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. where visitors can preview the quilts and various goods that will be auctioned on the next day.
On Saturday doors open at 8 a.m. with a country market, silent auction and lunch counter. Various homemade preserves as well as local produce will be available.
The day will continue with a general auction where dodders will have a chance to purchase hundreds of new and used items for their homes, gardens and farms. Locally made solid wood furniture will also be up for auction.
The event closes with the main quilt auction. EDCL representatives will auction off hand made quilts comforters and mats donated by local craftspeople.
