Ever Been to an Auction?
It's that time again -- time to attend a fun auction and help a worthy cause.
Before there was an earthquake the Amish and Mennonites volunteered goods and helped raise money to alleviate poverty and suffering in Haiti. There are a number of such auctions in Amish communities around the country but the one I'd like to talk about here happens in Sarasota, Florida, at the fairgrounds. This year is the 15th annual auction and it's next weekend on January 21.
Go to www.floridahba.com and check out the photos of last year's auction. You'll see that a great time was had by all.
I wrote about the auction in the second book of the Stitches in Time series. The first book in the series -- Her Restless Heart -- is out late next month.
In honor of the release of the book, I'm holding a contest for an Advance Reader copy of Her Restless Heart on AmishHearts.com Just drop a comment there and tell me about your favorite charity or charity event. The winner will be announced next weekend at AmishHearts.com
On a personal note, would you please pray for my 89 year old mother who's not doing well? She's one of my biggest fans, talking about my books to anyone who'll listen at her nursing home.
Blessings,
Barbara
Categories: Amish fiction
Tags: Her Restless Heart Haiti Benefit Auction
have never been to an auction.
My favorite charities are benefits for Cancer having lost my Mom and Dad 5 months apart to it. I also lost my youngest brother to heart disease so that is also a cause I support and Anything to do with children or pets I support.
I certainly will be praying for your Mom , in fact I shall say one right after this is posted. May God Bless you both.
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Sorry to hear about your mother, Barbara. i'll be praying for both of you.
My favorite Charity would have to be Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child. i really enjoyed the auctions we used to have to raise money for our schools.
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My favorite charity is the Disabled Veterans. They have given so much for us and our country that it is so important for us to support them and help to make their lives better.
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I like the United Way because they help so many partner agencies. It's also easy to donate with payroll deduction. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you
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First things first: Barbara, I will be praying for your dear mother, that she be touched by God's own hands, and may she feel His angels surrounding her, bringing her comfort and serenity. I will also post this to the AL Prayer Requests group.
You asked about our favorite charities. Mine pertains to my very own dear and loving mother who died of cancer 26 years ago. Hospice was my saving grace at that time. They arranged for volunteers to comfort and counsel me, and people to come in and stay with my mom while I took my 3 young children to and from school. These volunteers made adjustments in their own personal lives and sacrificed their time to be at my beck and call whenever I needed them. Near the end when my mother couldn't sleep at night and would cry out to me Hospice arranged for home health care workers to come and stay the night 3 nights a week so that I could at least get some sleep. A registered nurse would come and visit each week and check my mother's status, and home health care workers came every day for care and my mother's daily needs. These people were angels of mercy, and I can't recommend Hospice highly enough. They are trained very thorougly in all aspects of end of life care, and I will always remember their gentle spirits and helpful hands.
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I like to donate to the local pregnancy crisis centers and to the WIC program. I love to crochet and donate baby hats, clothes and blankets!
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We give locally to Angel on Assignment.
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I will definitely Pray for your Mother
I would also love to win this contest
Gods Blessings to you and yours
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I've never been to an auction, however, I've seen plenty advertised. I love reading your books and can't wait for the next one to come out. An avid fan. I'll keep your mom in my prayers. I hope to be one of the winners for the new book.
Joanne
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My prayers to you and your family for your Grandmothers health. Hers is a lost generation...times we will never see again.
My favorite charity is making hats for women with breast cancer.
My 2 beautiful grandaughters have donated their hair to Locks of Love.
So many great things to do to help women with disease.
Blessings to you and yours,
Jacquie
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had not heard of this auction before sounds great, I give to St Jude's as I feel this helps all the little ones of the world that need special care, and helps their parents in time of need.
thanks for sharing your books, love to read them.
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My granddaughters school usually has a silent auction once a year.
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So wish I lived closer and could go to the auction!! Pinecraft sounds so unique and wonderful. My goal is to make a visit there in 2013!!(When my daughter has finished university- and the bills stop! LOL) Praying for your mom, Barbara! I know how stressful an elderly person's health and well being can be. Praying for strength for both of you!
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I have one charity that sticks out, It is one that we helped out on, for a 2 yr old that was born with cancer. It was sad and yet everyone was up beat! The child had surgery and is for now doing well.
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First let me say I will be praying for your Mother. My favorite charity is the Leukemia, Lymphona Society. My daughter will celebrate her 9th year in remission from leukemia on February 14. Anytime I can give or help any organization related to cancer I do.
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My volunteer work has always been with the US Army Families. My husband is in the US Army and I am a Family Readiness Group Leader. I work with families and soldiers with helping them with all needs. I have cordinated fundraiser events, holiday parties, meals to helping families in need in all different situations. Planned events while living overseas with families away from there extended families. I have worked countless of volunteer hours giving to everyone and not expecting getting anything in return. I have planned tons of holiday events with gathering donations from local store vendors and companies to making holidays at ease for the families of US Soldiers serving overseas and stateside. My husband and I have played Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus so military children could enjoy seeing there favorite holiday charcater and telling them what they wanted and gifts that wher donated where given to the families and there children. We also had a food drive for the lower enlisted soldiers and there families during the winter holidays that where wanting to have a nice family dinner we would go and deliver the food to there homes so they could be more thankful and blessing that are put upon them, vs us. We have always opened our home during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays for single and unaccompanied soldiers so they would not be spending the holidays alone. I have been doing this now for eight years and always enjoyed doing and seeing smiles on there faces and hearing the thanks for allowing them to spend the holidays with us is the best charity and volunteer work that I do. Helping others in need is the best thing that I can do for others. I might not have alot to give as we did before but even though I still open my heart for the Soliders and there families in need because they need it more then my husband and I then we shall do what we are meant to do and that is to help them first and then us second.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post and sending tons of prayers for your Mother.
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I love going to Mud Sales I try to get to at least 2-3 a year. They are so much fun.
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Hello Barbara, first let me say your Mother will be in my heart and prayers, and I will be thinking of you.. blessings
I would love to win this book I love the last one I got from you and cherish it.. hugs and prayers always
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Humane Society or any charity to feed children. Keeping you and your mom in my thoughts and prayers.
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sure would like to win the book. I just finished a series from the library by Marta Perry, I think it was, and it continues. I like having my own books tho to be able to pass them along.
As to being to an auction, the only one is a silent auction of baskets of items done at our Parish for the Parish. We also have ongoing collections for the food pantry and baby items for CCS and Pregnancy Care Center. The big box for the food was painted by a talented woman and says "If you can't feed 100, just feed one". I think it's wonderful that the Amish are part of charitable giving in their areas. The books I read have different areas doing different things as far as outside their communities.
I've had a question about their dress, do different Amish allow different colors in mens' shirts and womens' dresses? And how in the world do they not poke themselves or their kids when using straight pins to fasten their clothes? What's wrong with safety pins? Or hook and eyes, or buttons...which to me are very plain but I guess they could be fancy. Do they use plastic pants over cloth diapers as I used to do?
Maybe I should've separated this into 2 comments.
God's blessings be with you and with your mom (mine died at that age but was going strong until a tiny stroke at 87, so sad).....Mary Ann
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My favorite charity event is Relay For Life for cancer survivors. Being a cancer survivor and having been involved with Relay For Life several times I whole heartily support it. My previous husband lost his battle with brain cancer almost 9 years ago. Before his cancer returned we walked together in two Relay For Life campaigns. We were top fund raisers one year. My husband took first place I came in second!
I would love to win an ARC copy of your book, Her Restless Heart.
Praying that your 89 year old Mom. I do hope she will soon be feeling better!
Blessings!
Judy
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My favorite charity would have to be the American Cancer Society. My son is a cancer survivor and I've lost a brother and an aunt to cancer.
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Hi Barbara,I pray your mom gets to feeling better real soon.I love your books,and I know your mom is so proud of you.The charity I would pick would be the American Cancer Society,my dad died with lung cancer,and I know of many people that has or had cancer.There are so many charities that are helping people,I wish I had the money to help them all.Thanks for the contest...in these hard economic times it is so nice of all of you authors giving away things...Blessings to you.
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Our favorite charity is Christian Law Association. They do so much to help preserve our religious freedom.
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Never been to an auction but would like to go to one since I got interested by watching Auction Kings on TV. My favorite charity is the Humane Society and a few others. Praying for your mother.
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So sorry to hear that your mother is not doing well. My mother-in-law passed at the age of 97 yrs. about 2 years ago after living with my husband and me for the last 15 yrs. I am lucky that my parents are both still with us. The only problem is they live 600 miles away, so I only get to see them once or twice a year. They are both 86 yrs old, so I know that my time with them is getting less and less.
I remember going to auctions as a little girl. I would go on Sat mornings with my older married cousin. She always bought something. This was not an antique or expensive item auction, just regular everyday things..slightly used. But I remember it being a fun time.
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My favorite charity is the SOUP KITCHENS here in the states....they feed hungry people here....I feel we should take care of the people here in our own country first.....
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I love to give to The Disabled Veteran's charity. HONOR OUR MILITARY!
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