La Poste served as the location for the second year running of the annual St. Patrick’s parish charity auction Saturday night.
The event featured food and drink and the unique and humorous touch of Dr. Tom Burkgren, who donated his talents as an auctioneer again this year to help raise money for the parish and St. Patrick’s school.
Burkgren, owner of Midwest Best Auction Services and executive director of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, sprinkled laughter and a light atmosphere into good-natured goading while rising the value of the 50 items up for bid.
At one point, bidding for an item was between Dr. Eric Ash, a family-practice doctor in Perry, and local funeral director Marcus Carris.
“He just sent you a higher bid,” Burkgren chided Carris of Ash as the capacity crowd laughed. “Are you going to let him do that to you? Of course, sending things to you is something he probably already does enough of.”
Parish members and local businesses donated a wide variety of items to be auctioned off, ranging from handmade furniture and quilts to homemade meals and desserts. Services fetching high bids included room remodeling, yard work, gutter cleaning and more, with NFL tickets, a skybox for 10 at an I-Cubs game and numerous other items up for bid.
A silent auction was also held and featured antique toys, art work, gift certificates and many other unique gifts.
Between the live and silent auctions, more than excess of $11,000 was raised toward a variety of parish needs.
ThePerryNews.com photos by Mark Summerson
