By Meg Peters
Review Staff Writer
The community roared holiday spirit last weekend at the Lake Orion Lions Club ‘A Christmas for Everyone? Charity Auction, raising more than $20,000 in the spirit of giving.
One of Lake Orion’s largest nonprofit organizations, the Lake Orion Lion’s Club hosted the annual charity auction at Milosch’s Palace Chrysler Jeep Dodge & Ram the eve of Saturday, Nov. 8.
The event nearly sold out, with over 200 people joining in the silent and live auctions as an auctioneer rattled off items, 70 percent which were completely donated by local area businesses.
One amazing feat this year, chairman of the auction Jim Leach Jr. said, was Milosch’s heartfelt support. Every dollar raised during the live auction Milosch matched with a 50 cent contribution.
‘The Milsoch family is just amazing with everything they do for us, they were a big contribution this year,? Leach said.
With items like a week-stay at a condo in Shanty Creek Resort, Fox Theatre tickets for tenor Andrea Bocelli, Red Wings tickets and a hockey stick autographed by Riley Sheahan, a barbeque grille package with propane refills, five cubic yards of hardwood mulch, a complete dog care package, an Indianwood Golf Course package, and holiday themed baskets only to name a few items, who could not have bid? Especially irresistible this auction was a ten-week-old boxer puppy complete with a bow tie.
Last year the Lion’s Club raised enough funds to create holiday care packages for 240 Lake Orion/Orion Township families and 90 seniors. Leach predicts this year’s proceeds will cover at least the same number of individuals, if not more.
The Christmas Basket Program, one of the club’s largest annual contributions to the community, typically provides a week’s worth of food to low income Lake Orion residents, along with other items such as laundry detergent, soap and toilet paper. If the family has children, toys for Christmas morning are also provided.
Many of the recipients are recommended. Club members are referred to students on the free or reduced lunch program at school and people who utilize the local food pantries, who are then interviewed by the Lions Club to determine the need is there.
There is still time to donate to the Christmas basket program on the Lions Club website at’lakeorionlions.org’to donate by credit card, or by sending a check to P.O. Box 255 Lake Orion, MI.
The Lions Club will be packing Christmas baskets on’December 19’this year and delivering them on’December 20, and anyone in the community is more than welcome to come and join the spirit of giving.
‘That’s when you really see what the charity money does to make a difference,? Leach added, encouraging any interested participants to call the Lions Club at248-975-6378’and leave a message.
‘We would really like to thank everyone that attended and all of the businesses in the community that donated baskets. We really couldn’t do it without all of their help,? he said.