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Benefit Auction Helps Make Camp Possible for Kids

Advent Christian Village (ACV) has been helping kids since its beginning over 102 years ago. Five orphans from North Carolina moved to Dowling Park in 1913 because they needed a place to live and Advent Christian Village was born. Today, children do not live at Advent Christian Village. Times have changed and orphanages do not exist in the United States any longer. But ACV has not stopped helping children. It has many programs designed to minister to the young, including Camp Suwannee, the full-service campground located at Advent Christian Village.

The Advent Christian denomination holds three weeks of camp each summer at Camp Suwannee for three co-ed age groups. Because the cost of camp can be prohibitive to some families being able to send their children to these life-changing weeks, Camp Suwannee offers several forms of financial help. It’s due to donations made by generous individuals and organizations that these “camperships” can be given. Another way camperships are funded is the Suwannee Gala for Treasure Seekers, a benefit auction and lunch.

Over the past four years, approximately $50,000 has been raised to help the ministries of Camp Suwannee and to supplement the financial cost of attending summer camp.

This year, the Suwannee Gala is being help Saturday, Feb. 13. As in years past, the event will be held at Camp Suwannee.

Starting at 10:00, a silent auction will be held. Items ranging from clothing to jewelry to antiques to gym equipment to baked goods will be up for auction. Two buildings will hold the many items.

Following the silent auction will be lunch and entertainment. Sweet Harmony, a ladies trio, will provide the entertainment this year. Sweet Harmony performed during ACV’s Autumn Fest in October and were recommended for this event as well. We’re sure you’ll enjoy them.

Ending the event on Saturday will be the live auction. The more expensive items will be auctioned this way. In the past, live auction items have included furniture sets, getaways, antique rugs, and a hot tub.

The majority of donations for this year’s Gala were received from estates, residents of Advent Christian Village, and local merchants from Perry, Steinhatchee, Live Oak, and Lake City, Florida; and Valdosta and Ellijay, Georgia.

For those who would like to inspect the many auction items prior to the event, on Friday, Feb. 12, beginning 3:00 p.m., you are invited to preview the items for the silent and live auctions which will be held the next day. A select group of items will be available as “buy-it-now” items at the Friday preview. Of course, those items will be available on a first come, first served basis.

The cost to attend both events is $15.00 per person. Tickets may be purchased at the door or ahead of time from the Village Lodge office. For more information or to purchase your tickets, please contact (386) 658-5200.

You won’t want to miss this year’s event. The next Gala won’t be held until 2018. So, come this year and enjoy helping send kids to camp at the Suwannee Gala for Treasure Seekers before it’s going, going, gone.