Donations are being accepted for the 27th annual Prairie Warrior Association Auction. The auction is set for March 23 at the Holiday Inn Riverside in Minot.
Sponsored by the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce's Military Affairs Committee led by Bruce Carlson, the auction is done to show the community's support of the men and women at Minot Air Force Base.
Through the years, the event has raised more than half a million dollars to help support the base's competition teams, squadron activities, and annual awards banquets. Funds raised also go to Operation Warmheart, a year-round program providing essentials such as food, clothing and other items to needy service members and their families, as well as Thanksgiving baskets during the holiday season.
Preview of the auction items on March 23 begins at 5:30 p.m., with refreshments and hors d'oeuvres served. The auction begins at 6:30 p.m.
John Bearman, of Minot, is in his seventh year as auctioneer.
Admission to the auction is $25 per person.
Donations
Donations from Minot and area businesses, individuals and organizations are welcome and should be made immediately.
The deadline is March 8 for submitting items for the auction.
Guidelines for donations include that the items can be serious, humorous, unusual, imaginative or creative. Any special instructions or information about the items, such as historical significance, should be included, if applicable. The information may increase the items' value during bidding.
If an item is an intangible gift such as a service or membership, a certificate or letter from the donor or business is required.
Items donated by March 8 will be included in the printed auction program. A continuous loop PowerPoint presentation will display a logo and special message from each sponsor. Those who would like to be included in the presentation should email their jpeg-ready file to (chamber@minotchamber.org).
For more information about the auction, including donations, contact Betty Fedorchak, auction chairwoman, at 838-6680 or the Chamber at 852-6000. The contact people for donations on base are Ben Jensen, 5th Bomb Wing, at 723-6342 or Randy Snyder, 91st Missile Wing, at 723-1445.
To make arrangements for pickup of items in Minot call Fedorchak or the Chamber and on base call Jensen or Snyder.