CLEARFIELD – It’s the biggest fundraiser each year for the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging’s auxiliary, Friends of the Area Agency on Aging, and last night county residents filled the Knights of Columbus to raise money for a good cause.
The 21st Anne S. Thacik Charity Auction saw a variety of items for bid, from paintings and furniture, to sports packages and garden décor. There were items autographed by celebrities and packages for a day away.
Chief Executive Officer Kathy Gillespie noted that the work of the auxiliary ensures that the agency can serve residents to the highest level possible. In recent years, grants to the agency have remained flat while the population needing assistance has grown. Clearfield’s was one of only a few agencies able to keep all staff on-hand during the budget impasse last year, thanks to the fundraising efforts of the auxiliary.
Proceeds from the auction are used for a variety of needs. Through the funds, the CCAAA was able to purchase vans for Meals on Wheels, serving approximately 200,000 meals per year.
CCAAA is also able to provide medication management services, transition services to help residents move from long-term care or the hospital to home, protective services that step in and care for 350 citizens in abusive situations per year and many other services to the elderly in the community.
There were many opportunities to get involved last night as well. There were games with various prizes, including money, a FitBit, a Kindle and so on, a regular silent auction, a special “elite” silent auction and the regular live bidding auction conducted by Pat Errigo.
Items in the elite silent auction included a Taylor Swift “Speak Now” very rare vinyl album, autographed sheet music for “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, an autographed cast photo from television’s Big Bang Theory and an autographed photo of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
The total amount raised is being calculated and will be released by CCAAA in the near future.
