This year the proceeds from the Feast auction will be sent to Camp Encourage, a program that sends children on the spectrum to camp. ([www.campencourage.org](http://www.campencourage.org/…))
Every year the shire selects a small, local charity, where our donations make a HUGE impact, and Camp Encourage is a wonderful program that truly could use the help.
As you may already know, the feast at the Feast of Eagles isn’t just about the FOOD (but, let’s face it, it’s going to be a grand feast this year for sure!). While waiting for feast to begin, the donors of the Feast Auction items bring their items to the auction table, with a card, describing what is to be auctioned. Each table of feasters pools their money together that they’ve brought for donations and selects someone to bid for them. With the first remove served, HL Adelaide Sarsfield (and her helpers!) will walk around and delight everyone with each group of items to consider, and when all the show-and-tell is done, the bidding will begin!
The bidding can sometimes get a bit rowdy, but we MUST pause when more food is served, because… FOOD! Once all the bidding is complete and the items delivered to the tables they will go to, the diners can then start debating what things they might be able to convince the other tables to give them. Say… that other table has an entire cheesecake??? Well, perhaps YOU like cheesecake, too, and… that other table over there, they certainly don’t look like they can eat the whole cheesecake by themselves, right? Perhaps they might part with just one slice for lil ol you… for the right price, of course! At that point, the cheesecake table has the right to accept or reject any and all offers for any extra cheesecake.
While the original bids are strictly cash only, and will go straight to the charity selected, I’ve seen these additional bids get a bit more creative. Of course there were additional donations to the charity, but I’ve also seen thumb wars happen, bids of post-feast kitchen help be accepted, and so much more! Oh boy, was the Feast Steward glad to see several young boys march into the kitchen after feast one year, ready to get to work! Just about anything goes, and it makes for an exciting dinner for everyone.
If you are donating a food or drink item, please please please provide the ingredient list, and… give Adelaide a heads up if it has any citrus in it, she will need someone else to handle it during the auction (she has an extreme allergy to citrus).