THUNDER BAY — Scott Reid has been excited about all of the activity at Reid’s Furniture over the last week.
However, the hustle and bustle isn't just coming from shoppers looking for a new couch.
Reid’s Furniture is hosting its first charity Christmas tree auction. Eight charities have decorated trees that are being auctioned off until Dec. 15.
“It’s been overwhelming since our initial set-up day on Monday,” said Reid, who is the store’s owner, president and general manager. “We had about 50 to 60 people in here decorating the trees and the Christmas spirit was unbelievable.
“The energy and the passion that everyone has for their causes was amazing.”
The Arthritis Society, Chartwell, DEK Addiction Recovery Foundation, Dilico Christmas Wish, PRO Kids, Shelter House, Team Werks Co-Op and the Thunder Bay & District Humane Society are all taking part in the auction.
The funds that are raised from the auction of each tree – which are valued at $1,600 without the decorations – will go to each charity directly.
“All of the charities came up with their own themes and a lot of them had their clients make the decorations, which makes it really personal,” said Patricia Poohachoff, who is Reid Furniture’s event coordinator and the manager of the in-home design and décor department.
“Getting the opportunity to talk to each of the organizations and learn about what they do was really emotional. You really get to know the importance of what these people are doing in our community.”
The public is also being asked to bring in a non-perishable food item to place under their favourite tree, with all food donations going to the Regional Food Distribution Association. The charity whose tree ends up with the most votes from the food donations will be given $5,000 from Reid’s Furniture.
Reid said that the idea for the auction came about from a conversation that he had with a store owner in Calgary a couple of years ago.
“They had some great success running an event like this out there and when we were looking for something to do with charities here, I remembered my friend Charlie’s idea from when we had talked on the phone,” Reid added.
“We gave him another call to tighten up the details and he basically motivated us to jump in.”
With food donations already pouring into the store, Reid said that it’s been overwhelming to see the support for the charities and the RFDA.
“You’re always concerned when you run these events that nobody will show up,” Reid said. “I was absolutely tickled to see the food already starting to pile up to where we’re already at a point where we’re trying to find places to put them, so that’s really neat.
“What’ll make us really happy though is when the bids start coming and we find a nice home for these trees. There’s one charity that will win the contest for the nicest tree, but every other charity should be a winner as well because they will get the proceeds from the auction.”
Non-perishable food items can be brought to Reid’s Furniture, which is located at 900 Cobalt Crescent, until Dec. 14. Anyone who makes a donation is also eligible for a draw to win either a stressless chair, decor-rest swivel chair, Laz-Z-Boy recliner or Durham Furniture cheval mirror.
They are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Bids for each tree can be submitted through TBnewswatch.com.
