Auction off to a good start

The 41st annual Alleghany Heart Fund Auction raised a total of $7,003 in sales and donations in its first week on the air on WCOK (1060 AM) last Saturday.

The auction will continue this Saturday (Feb. 23) on WCOK from about 9:30 a.m. until sign off (around nightfall that evening). Audio from the auction will also be aired on Alleghany Cablevision Channel 8. Some items for bid in Saturday's auction are currently on display at Season's Gifts and Home Decor (located in the former Smithey's building) on South Main Street in Sparta.

This year's auction total was up slightly from last year's opening week total of $6,651.

Of the funds raised Feb. 16, a total of $4,576 was raised through auction items and the remaining $2,427 came through contributions and donations.

During the first week of the auction last year, challenges, contributions, memorials and pledges brought in $2,498, while auction items brought in $4,153.

As of presstime, the amount of money given through gold and silver sponsors had not been calculated, according to long-time Heart Auction Volunteer Virginia Setzer. She explained that gold sponsors typically contribute $250, while silver sponsors typically contribute $100.

Of the auction thus far, Setzer commented, "I appreciate all of the people who have made any form of contribution—monetary, material or time—toward this year's auction thus far. Without everyone's help, this would not be successful."

Items were still coming in on Tuesday for the last week of the auction.