COAL TOWNSHIP - A special charity auction Saturday will help the local Salvation Army in its effort to help those in need this Christmas season.
Organizers hope to have more than 200 items for sale at Energy Liquidators, in the former Ames Plaza, starting at 10 a.m. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the Shamokin-Coal Township chapter of the Salvation Army to be used locally.
Salvation Army board member Brian Persing and Bill Dudeck were discussing the Salvation Army's need for funds for Christmas and came up with the idea to hold an auction. Dudeck talked with his daughter Vanessa, who manages the Energy Liquidators auction house, and her staff quickly pulled the plan together.
The firm is donating its facility and time of its staff, including auctioneer Freda Williams.
The first donation came from local coal hauler Rick McSurdy, who donated a ton of delivered coal. Others, including B&L Car Dealers, James Pizza, Mac's Hoagies and Coldwell Banker Realty, have also donated.
Individuals have donated household goods, antiques and collectibles for the auction, Persing said.
Donations for the sale will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday as long as they are clean, saleable items. A partial photo gallery of items can be found by doing a Google search for "Energy Liquidators in Coal Township."
Food collection deadline Monday
Meanwhile, the local Salvation Army chapter continues with its area-wide collection of specific food items. There are 600 needy families with more than 2,000 children throughout the Shamokin, Mount Carmel and surrounding areas that have requested assistance with food and toys this holiday season, and with pantry shelves getting bare, the special drive was started.
The drive ends Monday.
Specific items needed are instant potatoes, boxed stuffing, cranberries, sweet potatoes, gravy, cake mixes and frosting, hams, turkeys, chickens, pasta and sauce.
Dropoff locations are Shamokin Police station at 511 N. Franklin St., Rob's Good Time Grill, Market and Spruce streets, Shamokin; James Pizza, 524 E. Pine St., Shamokin (from 6 p.m. to midnight Wednesday through Sunday), Mountain View: A Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Trevorton Road, and Northwestern Academy, Route 61, Coal Township.
Contact Persing at 847-2479 or fellow Salvation Army board member Chris Venna at 205-1144 to arrange donations or pickup of items.
Monetary donations are also being accepted and can be sent to the Salvation Army, 1300 W. Spruce St., Coal Township 17866. Persing said $19.95 will feed five people, $23.94 will feed six people and $39.90 will feed 10 people.