Auction raises money for holiday dinners, gifts

The Ishpeming Salvation Army Harvest Gathering Charity Auction is this Wednesday.

The friendly–and at times–competitive auction is used to raise money for the holiday turkey dinners and Christmas gifts for the kids.  Officials say every year the auction gets more and more popular.

“We have over 100 items, and I try to do three a minute, so I go a little bit fast,” Paul Bonetti of the Salvation Army said.  “And if you are looking at me, and you blink, you bought it.”

“I love seeing people fight over the items, when they really want an item and they pay more,” Stephen Hansen of the Salvation Army said.  “Every year that Green Bay Packers football gets more and more expensive.  It’s exciting to see how much people will pay to support the Salvation Army  and our work here.”

In addition to the popular Packers football, other items include everything from a lawn mover, to Packers football game tickets, and homemade apple butter.

The auction is Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Ishpeming Salvation Army.