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The annual Rotary Club of Huntsville Christmas Auction is back, with hundreds of items valued, in total, at more than $50,000.<\/p>\n
Proceeds from the auction support Rotary’s community initiatives, including projects like the facelift on Hunters Bay Trail which got underway this year with some landscaping and painting of the Avery Beach pavilion, and support for organizations like the Huntsville Hospital Foundation and Habitat for Humanity. The club also has a human development fund which helps people access basic needs they can’t afford like eye glasses, walkers, or emergency relief if their Hydro is cut off.<\/p>\n
The club had to cancel or postpone some of its other fundraisers this year, like Dockfest and its pancake breakfast at the Maple Festival.<\/p>\n
They were sensitive to businesses who may be struggling this year due to the pandemic, but quickly discovered that many were still in a position to generously donate items or funds that could be used to purchase gift certificates for area businesses and restaurants.<\/p>\n
Supplementing those items are several dozen hand-crafted wooden gifts, like Muskoka chairs, rocking horses, games, and wine racks, made by Rotarians, as well as paintings by local artist Helena Renwick.<\/p>\n\n\t\t