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Date: 2/23/2023
WESTFIELD — The 54th Westfield Kiwanis Auction is March 3-5, and for both annual bidders and first-timers, there is sure to be something to catch each eye.
Kiwanis President Lesley Lambert said auction items range from trips to South Beach, Miami, to an autographed Taylor Swift guitar and concerts.
There are also many items donated by local businesses, including restaurant gift cards, services, numerous themed baskets, Red Sox tickets with a parking pass, a bicycle, lottery board and much more.
Auction Chair Anne Benoit has collected items that Lambert said should make bidders happy.
“They come from individuals and local businesses, many of which buy items and donate them to us if they don’t offer their own goods or services,” said Lambert, adding that these donations are priceless when it comes to helping Kiwanis help area youth.
“It means everything,” she said. “This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and this propels us to give grants to youth programs.”
For 100 years, the mission of Westfield Kiwanis has always focused on children, which is what Lambert said drives the current 50 members to work hard and volunteer their time.
“That’s why I joined five years ago,” she added.
Kiwanis helped found the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield and remains a large financial supporter of the club’s programs and building. Kiwanis offers grants to youth programs, which can be applied for on the westfieldkiwanis.org site. Funds are used to send children to summer camp, fight hunger, support youth sports and more.
Westfield Kiwanis also sponsors youth service clubs throughout Westfield’s public schools and at St. Mary’s, including K Kids, Builders Club and Key Club. All three clubs – which include children from elementary through high school – encourage community projects that benefit children, both locally and globally.
Kiwanis also partners with Westfield on Weekends and other community organizations to volunteer at events that benefit youth throughout Greater Westfield.
Lambert said Westfield Kiwanis celebrated its centennial in 2022 and is going strong.
“It’s a great group of people who care about children,” she said, noting that Kiwanis is always seeking more members.
“We come from all walks of life, all careers, retired people, self-employed people – really anyone can join and make a difference,” Lambert said.
Kiwanis meets weekly on Thursdays, but Lambert said the time commitment is what members make it.
“It’s what you want it to be,” she said. “Some members meet weekly and are able to give a lot of time, others meet and do what they can. But everyone is there for the mission, and that’s the kids.”
The Westfield Kiwanis Auction started on the radio, then moved to television and is now hosted online.
“When COVID[-19] started, we didn’t want to cancel so we made it an online auction and it was successful, so we continue to host it online,” she said.
A preview of auction items is available online at kiwanisauction.com through March 3, with bidding March 3-5.