Heart Auction ends with overall total of $14,343

Organizers were pleased with this year's WCOK Heart Auction total of $14,343, said spokesperson Virginia Setzer, despite the fact that the total was slightly short of last year's amount.

The auction made $7,226 during its second week, which was slightly above the first week total of $7,117. Setzer said some late totals have changed since they were last announced on the radio station.

The auction sold a total of 114 items, raising a total of $5,759 in bids. In addition, the Heart Fund also received 80 contributions for $1,237 and special contributions in the amount of $230 in honor of David Parlan Smith.

As for the goal of beating last year's total of about $15,770, Setzer said, "Cornelia (Reeves) and I have agreed, when we have done the best we could, we have achieved our goal. We always try to beat last year, and we weren't much under it."

The year prior"s total was $15,217.

Setzer noted that the auction coincidentally sold the same number of items both weeks.

The biggest selling item in the auction was pottery by Rob and Bet Mangum, which sold for $555.

The top golf package, for Roaring Gap Club, sold for $375. Altogether, the golf packages sold for $625.

"We sold all of our items that we had," Setzer said. "Everyone's been exceptional on picking up items. The big things have already been picked up."

New this year was the availability of Main Street location for dropping off and picking up items. "It was a big plus for us. We had several items picked up at the former pawn shop on Sundays," Setzer said. "Some people even came by the station on Saturday and picked up their items and paid."

In the past, the items not picked up at the station were often transported to Setzer"s Carolina Silk Shop on Whitehead Street. Setzer related a story about a man from New Bern who wanted something sweet. "One man called me from New Bern and asked me to buy him a cake. He paid $50 for a lemon pound cake."

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