The 26th Annual Benefit Auction for Special Children Brings in Crowd

Sept. 7, 2023, marked the 26th benefit auction held to raise money to benefit the Clinic for Special Children and the Central Pa Clinic. It was just the second year to have a rib dinner the evening before and also allow folks to preview auction items for the next day. The auction kicked off at the Morrison Cove Produce Auction in Roaring Spring. Over 400 dinners were sold in the first hour on Friday.

The auction on Saturday started off with breakfast items for sale and the aroma of the food and warm weather. The auction began at 9 a.m. and there was also lots of seating for this. Many folks traveled from the Lancaster area as well as surrounding communities to attend this worthy event.

Those in attendance could walk around the auction building and participate in one of three auctions going on. There was a silent auction at two different locations.

Jordon and his wife Joyce Martin of Woodland Carriages on Pulpit Road Woodbury donate a buggy every year. This year's buggy had a battery installed to run lights under the buggy and on the sides of the carriage. This was the 62nd buggy that was built at this shop and it sold for $10,000. According to Jordon, the shop produces about one every month.

There were thousands of donuts made by a local bakery in Woodbury for this event. Groups of women from the local community worked in two shifts all day Friday to make enough for the auction.

The auction took a pause at 11:30 for Family Practice Physician Dr. Grace Meyer from the clinic to speak. Dr. Morten usually speaks at this time to update the crowd on the Belleville Clinic and any new developments. This year Dr. Morton was not available, though he did attend the auction later in the day.

Dr. Meyer told a story of one of their patients who waited 62 years and was finally given a diagnosis. This is all in part to the genetic testing that is being done at the clinic.

The head of the research team at the clinic explained how genetic testing was also able to be done at the auction and shows over 1,300 genetic changes. She explained it is important for couples to have this done before they have children. If they both have a gene, then the chances of a child having it is about 100 percent. Also, if you can prepare ahead what your child might develop, you can take the means to have it treated immediately and prevent extra problems or cure the disease.

Specialty items such as quilts, pillows, pottery were auctioned off after hearing from Dr. Meyer.

Folks went back and forth to the silent auctions trying to outbid their opponent on an item they wanted to obtain.

The auction went on through the afternoon and ended with the final auction being the food items that were left.