AUBURN - The 13th annual Chinese Auction benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation will be held Saturday at Christmas Pines Campground, 450 Red Church Road, rain or shine.
"We hope to raise enough money to grant two wishes this year," Lois Dalton, Pottsville, a veteran camper and organizer of the event, said. "We have two children who want to go to Disney and we want to make that happen."
The auction has grown in the past 13 years with the efforts of Dalton and Barbara Folweiler, in conjunction with the owners of Christmas Pines Campground, Dorrie and Clyde Lowthert, who have raised more than $70,000 total.
"We've come a long way," Dalton said. "Our first year we started at $2,944. Last year was our biggest year. We made $11,274. We usually get a big turnout."
Auction-goers can browse and pick up their tickets from 4 p.m. until the auction begins at 6 p.m. Prizes include a 32-inch TV, $100 cash drawing, a lottery tree, grill, hammock and many others. There will be a food stand selling Coney Island hot dogs, hamburgers and fries and a bake sale. Dalton asked that participants bring lawn chairs.
Dalton's involvement stems not only in her support for a charitable cause, but also from close connections with the foundation.
"Our granddaughter was a Make-A-Wish child," she said. "That's not the only reason, but it's something that's close to me for this cause."
All proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
According to its website, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has been granting the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses since 1980.
The foundation's mission reflects the life-changing effect that a Make-A-Wish experience has on children, families, referral sources, donors, sponsors and entire communities.
