Preparation is underway for the 4th Annual Friends of V.I. National Park Online Auction, a signature event that raises funds to support programs and projects in the national park, and Friends is seeking unique items from the community and businesses of St. John.
This year, it is reaching out to the community as well as businesses to find unique, special-interest items that can be auctioned online to benefit the park. In addition to retail goods and services such as jewelry, dining, hotel and villa stays and excursion packages, Friends is also calling upon people to see what they might have around home that would help with the auction.
Friends is calling on people to look around home for a unique item that is special enough to auction for this important cause. Whether it’s a piece of original artwork, historic items, a unique collection of some sort – or even something popular like airline miles, a car or a boat, it can benefit the National Park through the online auction.
Potential auction items must be of excellent quality and condition, and with as much “history” as possible, so details can be described correctly online. Donations are also tax deductible as allowed by law.
The popular online auction features items and packages for bidding in time for holiday gift giving. This year’s auction opens for bidding at 9 a.m. EST on Nov. 16 and will run until 8 p.m. EST Dec. 9.
This year’s goal is to raise $30,000 to support Friends’ mission of the protection and preservation of the natural and cultural resources of Virgin Islands National Park and to promoting the responsible enjoyment of this unique national treasure.
If you have a business you would like to promote, or a special item you’d like to make someone happy with, and want do some good at the same time, please get in touch to donate.
Friends will be accepting donations through Monday, Nov. 13. Please contact Karen Vahling at 779-4940 or [email protected] , or donate directly through the auction site.
The auction site is www.biddingforgood.com/friendsofvinp or visit (www.friendsvinp.org) for the link.