Bids For Kids silent auction to benefit youth outreach programs

The YMCA Bids For Kids Silent Auction provides it’s members, and the community, a chance to bid on a variety of items donated by local businesses, organizations, community groups and individual community members, to help raise money for its youth outreach programs. These programs provide families with childcare assistance, after school learning opportunities and a safe and encouraging environment where kids can grow and excel.

Director of Marketing Strategies, Jonathan Albarado said, “Families in our community are struggling financially because of the higher prices for goods and services due to inflation. The money raised through this auction allows us to alleviate some of those additional costs to families and helps us put more back into those programs to improve the quality and so that more kids are able to attend.”

The Kingsport Family YMCA has continued to expand throughout 2022 and now provides youth programming and services to over three counties in the Northeast Tennessee region. The Afterschool program is located at 19 school locations, across three school districts, with a goal to open additional sites in 2023 to serve more students and families.

The YMCA Brighter Horizons Youth Center in Rogersville opened its doors in August and currently serves 6-8 grade middle school students on average per day. Students will have access to the library, computer room, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) lab, game room, art room, or the outside play area where there is a GAGA pit and basketball court.

“We are still in the early stages of this facility and the programming we provide, so there is plenty of room for growth,” Shari Mefford, YMCA Brighter Horizons Youth Center Director explained. “In addition to expanded our current offerings, we hope to bring additional resources and services for kids AND their families through additional donations and funding. We want the Youth Center to be an integral part of the Rogersville community and its families.” 

In 2021, the Bids For Kids Silent Auction was held online for the first had over 100 donated items and raised over $15,000 in donations.

Kimberly Cousineau, CEO/ Executive Director of the YMCA had this to say, “2021 was a year of growth and expansion and it was incredible to see the generosity of our community on display during the holiday season. I believe our members were excited about the work we were doing in their community and they wanted an opportunity to be a part of that progress and growth. We all came together, opened our hearts, and made a difference.”

Items are displayed at the YMCA and members can walk by, see all the items and make a bid through the auction site. “Even though the auction is online, we wanted to make sure local businesses and individuals were highlighted in our facility to our members.” January Tankersley, Sr. Director of Development said. “Seeing the items in person, lined up down the YMCA hallway, adds to the overall Christmas spirit of the event and makes it more exciting.”

Bidding for the auction opens up at 6:00 am on Monday, November 28 and will go until 4:00 pm on Friday, December 4.

• You must join the online auction in order to bid on the items. You can join the online auction now and information on how to join are at org/bidsforkids.
• Bidders can bid on items until the last second on the last day of the auction.

All proceeds from the auction will go directly towards our Youth Outreach programs to help families who need financial assistance and to improve and expand our services.