PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ST. DAVID’S BY THE SEA EPISCOPAL CHURCH
St. David’s by the Sea’s 8th Annual Fall Fundraising Auction kicks off with a silent auction of items donated by parishioners, businesses, and community members.
Folks can try out some good wine and hors d’oeuvres in November when St. David’s by the Sea Episcopal Church in Cocoa Beach hosts its 8th Annual Fall Fundraising Auction.
The auction, which benefits local charities, will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 2, in the Parish Hall at the church, located at 600 4th St., Cocoa Beach. The event begins with a silent auction, wine, and hors d’oeuvres. A live auction will follow. The evening finishes up with dessert and coffee.
“This is a very popular event with the parish,” said auction head Ellie Yelle. “We have 150 tickets, at $10 each, and we always sell out.”
The event traditionally has been a success. Last year’s auction raised $10,000.
Some of the local charities that benefit from the auction are: Family Promise of Brevard, Central Brevard Sharing Center, Emergency Money for Veterans, Veteran’s Memorial Center in Merritt Island, Cape View Elementary School in Cape Canaveral, the Salvation Army Domestic Violence Shelter, and Hurricane Relief.
“We subsidize the children who take part in the free breakfast and lunch program at Cape View Elementary,” Yelle said. “In the summer, they don’t have this program, so we put together backpacks of food. Some of the children don’t even have underwear, so we include underwear and personal care items.
t. David’s Parish Hall decorated and ready for the 8th Annual Fall Fundraising Auction.
“Members of the parish donated 3,600 pounds of food for the summer outreach,” Yelle said. “When I asked for peanut butter, they brought me cases of the stuff!”
Yelle said the church auction also provides emergency money to veterans. “Often, there will be a need for rent or utility money for one of the veterans, and we are glad to pitch in for our veterans,” she said.
Items auctioned are brought in by members of the parish. “We also have gift cards to restaurants and shops, donated by members of the community and vendors,” Yelle said. “Cocoa Beach is a very generous town. We receive donations from all over Brevard County.”
The parish donates $30,000 a year to charities. A whopping $20,000 of that money is made up by donations. “Our parishioners are always very generous. No matter what I ask for, they bring it!”
For more information, call the church office at 321-783-2554.