by CAROLYN WINDBERG
It raises tens of thousands of dollars, it sends students all over the United States and the world, AND it is covered in green. What is it, you might ask? The 57th annual St. Pat’s Auction, of course! This has been the one of the longest traditions at Loras College. All of their proceeds support the Campus Ministry service trips.
Every year, the thousands of dollars raised go toward the service trip groups that give up their Thanksgiving, winter,
J-Term, and spring breaks in order to serve various communities within and outside the U.S. The donations raised through the St. Pat’s Auction allow students to make the trips to help others. The students on each of these service trips spend a week at their location serving the poor and those in need. The participants do all kinds of work, ranging from the construction of buildings to serving meals and tutoring children.
But more than physical work, the participants show their concern and their desire to become aware of all the different people in need. This year’s groups went to two different sites in Appalachia, New Orleans, Washington, Chicago and Philadelphia. These trips would be unable to occur if it was not for their main fundraiser, the St. Pat’s Auction. The money raised through the auction covers the cost for the volunteers and the service sites to continue their work, many of which are nonprofit organizations.
Unfortunately, due to the recent earthquake in Haiti, our annual service trip to the Louverture Cleary School had to be cancelled. But just because we were physically unable to be helping the people of Haiti at this time doesn’t mean we cannot still provide aid and support. Money has been raised for the Haitian Project, and members of the Haiti service trip will be selling bracelets to benefit Haiti.
More than 100 businesses in Dubuque and the surrounding area have donated items or services for the auction at this year’s event. Some of last year’s most popular items were a selection of guitars, an iPod, delicious desserts from Debbie Gross, and a digital camera. Organizations within Loras also have been known to share in the generosity by donating priceless items to the St. Pat’s Auction, such as the lowest lottery number for on-campus housing, donated by Residence Life; parking permits for the faculty lots, donated by Campus Safety; and several dinners provided by faculty and staff members.
Also, every year there is a raffle, with this year’s winner receiving a Wii and a Wii Fit Plus. We encourage you to buy raffle tickets; one for $1 or six for $5, and we also encourage you to check out the donations that will be at this year’s auction. This year the auction will be held on Friday, March 12. The registration table will be opening at 5:30 p.m. and the auction bidding begins at 6 p.m. Whether you come to have a fun night in the ballroom, to support service trips, to bid on amazing auction items, or to be a part of a greater picture of service to others, make a bid for a cause at the 57th annual St. Pat’s Auction.
