Annual Kidney Fund Auction brings plenty of buyers to Mt. Hope Auction Barn
The annual Kidney Fund Benefit Auction was held on Saturday, June 2, at the Mt. Hope Auction Barn. Starting at 8 a.m., people gathered to buy items to benefit those around Holmes County who need their help. The auction was sponsored by the Homes County Kidney Fund, Inc.
The Holmes County Kidney Fund, Inc. was founded to help individuals and families with the expenses associated with treatments, medications and other costs many families have difficulty covering for those battling a kidney disease. The nonprofit holds an annual fundraiser to help support their clients.
“We chip in where people don’t have insurance or who don’t have insurance to cover what they need. Our biggest things are making sure people have ways to dialysis treatment and to pay for medications,” said Marv Yoder, current chairman of the Holmes County Kidney Fund.
At any given time, the organization can be helping up to 25 to 35 people during one time of the year. If there is money still available from the annual benefit auction, they will also give money to research and to help with doctor and hospital bills for those without health insurance.
The way the Holmes County Kidney Fund started was within a troubled family themselves. After Vernon Yoder (brother to Marv Yoder) needed a kidney transplant, the Kidney Foundation of Ohio helped the family with medical bills and expenses. His mother gathered quilts from the area and sent them to Cleveland to be auctioned in their annual fundraiser. Soon after Vernon’s first transplant, there were others in Holmes County that needed transplants.
“A woman who helped with the auction in Cleveland suggested to my mother that she start a fund in Holmes County, so that the money could be kept local to help others in our area. So that’s what my mother did 36 years ago,” said Yoder.
Before the annual auction started, a kickoff event was held on Friday evening at the Mt. Hope Auction Barn, with a volleyball tournament, food, and live entertainment surrounding the anxious buyers. Saturday’s auction kicked off with a pancake and sausage breakfast at 6 a.m. The auction started at 9 a.m., with furniture auctioned at 10:30 a.m. and the quilt auction at 1 p.m.
Barbecue chicken, homemade ice cream and a bake sale were also available throughout the day. Profits benefited the Holmes County Kidney Fund.
The auction boasted some of the nicest things around, from just about everywhere you can imagine. Between 300 and 400 merchants donated items from Holmes and surrounding counties to be auctioned off. Items included a 30-by-40-foot building built on the winning bidder’s level site, two complete new bedroom sets, a new open buggy, a standard-bred buggy horse, ponies with harnesses and carts and quilts, among hundreds of other items.
“This year, our gross income was $117,000. We are up $10,000 from last year alone. That money will go to helping a lot of families in need,” said Yoder.
All proceeds from the auction will go to help patients in Holmes, Wayne, Tuscarawas and Coshocton counties.
“This would not be possible without the support of local businesses and all the people who help put it together. We live in a special community who are willing to help out people who need it most, just to help others and that’s really important,” said Yoder.
The Holmes County Kidney Fund, Inc. was founded to help individuals and families with the expenses associated with treatments, medications and other costs many families have difficulty covering for those battling a kidney disease. The nonprofit holds an annual fundraiser to help support their clients.
“We chip in where people don’t have insurance or who don’t have insurance to cover what they need. Our biggest things are making sure people have ways to dialysis treatment and to pay for medications,” said Marv Yoder, current chairman of the Holmes County Kidney Fund.
At any given time, the organization can be helping up to 25 to 35 people during one time of the year. If there is money still available from the annual benefit auction, they will also give money to research and to help with doctor and hospital bills for those without health insurance.
The way the Holmes County Kidney Fund started was within a troubled family themselves. After Vernon Yoder (brother to Marv Yoder) needed a kidney transplant, the Kidney Foundation of Ohio helped the family with medical bills and expenses. His mother gathered quilts from the area and sent them to Cleveland to be auctioned in their annual fundraiser. Soon after Vernon’s first transplant, there were others in Holmes County that needed transplants.
“A woman who helped with the auction in Cleveland suggested to my mother that she start a fund in Holmes County, so that the money could be kept local to help others in our area. So that’s what my mother did 36 years ago,” said Yoder.
Before the annual auction started, a kickoff event was held on Friday evening at the Mt. Hope Auction Barn, with a volleyball tournament, food, and live entertainment surrounding the anxious buyers. Saturday’s auction kicked off with a pancake and sausage breakfast at 6 a.m. The auction started at 9 a.m., with furniture auctioned at 10:30 a.m. and the quilt auction at 1 p.m.
Barbecue chicken, homemade ice cream and a bake sale were also available throughout the day. Profits benefited the Holmes County Kidney Fund.
The auction boasted some of the nicest things around, from just about everywhere you can imagine. Between 300 and 400 merchants donated items from Holmes and surrounding counties to be auctioned off. Items included a 30-by-40-foot building built on the winning bidder’s level site, two complete new bedroom sets, a new open buggy, a standard-bred buggy horse, ponies with harnesses and carts and quilts, among hundreds of other items.
“This year, our gross income was $117,000. We are up $10,000 from last year alone. That money will go to helping a lot of families in need,” said Yoder.
All proceeds from the auction will go to help patients in Holmes, Wayne, Tuscarawas and Coshocton counties.
“This would not be possible without the support of local businesses and all the people who help put it together. We live in a special community who are willing to help out people who need it most, just to help others and that’s really important,” said Yoder.
Published: June 7, 2012
