Ellsworth auction to aid Katrina victims

ELLSWORTH – More than 150 businesses from Hancock County and beyond have donated items ranging from beauty products to sporting equipment for a weekend auction to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Proceeds from the event, called “Downeast to the Bayou,” will be dispersed by the Maine Community Foundation to three charitable organizations: Habitat for Humanity, the Red Cross and the Humane Society.

The fundraiser will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Ellsworth High School track behind the Mill Mall on State Street.

According to organizer Kristin Hanscom of Downeast Modular Homes, the auction will include something for everyone.

Donated items include a kayak, toys, artwork, lift tickets to ski resorts, books signed by Stephen King and Martha Stewart, a hockey stick signed by University of Maine hockey players and gift certificates to restaurants and hotels located all over the county and as far away as Augusta.

Hanscom said she and her sister got the idea for the charity auction after watching hours of television coverage of the disaster and its aftermath.

“It just grew from there,” she said Wednesday. “I am just overwhelmed by the community spirit that I am seeing.”

Jerry Miller, an auctioneer and appraiser from Mount Desert, has also volunteered his services for the event.

“This is a great showing for Katrina,” he said. “It’s a great showing from the business community.”

Besides the auction, the event will include a 50/50 raffle, children’s activities and food sales. In case of rain the event will be held in the gym at the Down East Family YMCA, also on State Street.