The Dining for Dollars program has two equally important roles — fundraising and community building. This year we did well on both fronts.
First, we expanded the public presence of D4$ by offering a Launch Party in Forbes Hall on Saturday, February 21st to get things started. This was one way to include more members and friends and create excitement about the online auction.
The Launch Party offered the opportunity to see old friends and get to know newer members. It included free food and drink, while encouraging potluck offerings, a Goods-and-Services auction, which was handled like a traditional silent auction, with paper bid sheets and winners paying for and taking home their winnings that evening, and a Raffle, also done in the traditional manner. Silent Auction and Raffle items were generously donated by UUSM members.
However, by far, the heart of D4$ still is the online auction, facilitated by a website called Auctria. A wide variety of events promises to be satisfying for many tastes. Most events involve food, some with around-the-world themes, arts, education, craft, games, even exercise. The online auction began the night of the Launch Party and ended on Sunday, March 1st.
On the fundraising side, we raised $27,700 from the Silent Auction, the Raffle and most of all, from the online D4$ Auction, with 84 offerings from 60 generous donors, some who offered multiple events and/or items, and 91 people participating. More that 70 folks came together at the Launch Party.
Dining for Dollars fills an important role in the church community by promoting community engagement while at the same time making money for our beloved UUSM. The Committee continues to strive to find novel ways to make this event attractive to all age groups, and hopes to increase participation of young people and families.
Thank you to all who participated.
—Dining for Dollars Committee
Pat Gomez, Rebecca Crawford, Greg Wood, Barbara Gibbs, Farrokh Allen, and Karl Lisovsky
