HOULTON, Maine — The Health Services Foundation will hold its sixth annual Charity Auction Saturday, Sept. 30.
The event is held to support Phase III of the Foundation’s current campaign to provide vitally needed medical equipment for Houlton Regional Hospital, according to Elizabeth Dulin, executive director for the Foundation.
Among the departments that will benefit from funds raised are acute care, ambulatory surgery, emergency room, Houlton internal medicine, laboratory, obstetrics/labor and delivery, operating room, pharmacy, physical /occupational therapy, and radiology.
“Proceeds from the event will assist in fulfilling department needs and make a difference by providing the best in community health care services,” Dulin said.
The auction will held at the Shiretown Inn and Suites, North Road, Houlton, starting with a preview at 6 p.m. and live auction at 7 p.m.
“The evening will have an exciting lineup of fun, feasts and fabulous items,” Dulin said. “We have everything from outdoor enjoyment, indoor décor, culinary delights and so much more will keep bidders on their toes to be the winner of their favorite items. Every auction that has been held we have marveled at the generosity of our auction donors, and as always this year is no exception.”
Foundation Executive Assistant Kelly Renner will use her Facebook expertise, and Bob Reece will update the website to post auction information.
“There will be some poignant moments during the course of the evening when six beautiful white fleece blankets will be presented for a very special reason,” Dulin said. “In searching for a winter blanket to present a company was found in Fall River, Massachusetts that makes their American Standard blankets right in Fall River – keeping ‘Made in America’ a reality.
Speaking with Connie Costa about what we were trying to do up here in The County with this event there was total amazement when she said she would donate six beautiful winter white blankets.”
That generosity stirred the idea for the Foundation to honor the memory of Dr. Robert Ellis, one of the Foundation’s most supportive trustees, who recently passed away.
“Dr. Bob, as we all knew him, went to Churchill, Manitoba in 2015 to photograph the Northern Lights, and allowed us to reproduce the photography, onto a limited number of CD’s for Foundation fundraising purposes,” Dulin said. “This stunning array of the Northern Lights is titled ‘Arctic Aurora Beauty.’ Dr. Bob loved coming to our auctions so we will present six auction packages of a Polar winter white blanket, Dr. Bob’s Northern Lights CD, the final issue of Echoes Magazine, a canvas tote bag with Northern Lights Design, and Sterling Silver North Star Compass Necklace.”
More excitement will see the six winners of these presentations placed into a drawing for a $1,520 diamond pendant from Walter Goodrich who continues to support the Foundation even though he has moved away. Sally Callnan of Callnan’s Nursery provided a sparkly, winter white flower arrangement by her floral designer, Lisa Kimball, to showcase the diamond.
“Somehow we know Bob will be smiling knowing his trip to Manitoba once again assisted the Foundation in its efforts to support Houlton Regional with vital medical equipment,” Dulin said. “Six lucky individuals will win wonderful presentations while at the same time giving them pause to remember him.”
In conducting this significant, multi-phase campaign for Houlton Regional the Foundation shared that due to the community support over the year, the group has successfully reached the goals set for Phase I and Phase II of this very vital campaign.
“Raising money in today’s world for the enormous cost of medical equipment and services is definitely a challenge to make it happen and would never be accomplished without our donors and our gratitude toward them is never ending,” Dulin said. “Please join us for an outstanding evening of auction delights, and in the process assist the Foundation to reach success in raising at least $350,000 or more, in a multi-equipment, multi-department campaign for Houlton Regional Hospital.”
For more information about this event, call 521- 2147 or visit www.healthservicesfoundation.org, facebook.com/hsfhoulton.
