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Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Successful 41st Merchants’ Toy N Joy Auction celebrated Originally published in The Chronicle Vol. 141 December 13, 2023 SARAH KELLY Country Media, Inc.
On December 2, the non-profit organization, Merchants’ Toy N Joy, held their 41st annual fundraising auction. The event took place at the Columbia County Fairgrounds Pavilion in St. Helens. The auction, which takes place every year on the first Saturday in December, sold out weeks before the set date, seeing an increase in attendees from last year. The Merchants’ Toy N Joy Benefit Auction Committee removed the 300-person cap they had previously placed on the event, raising it to a 350-person limit. “Last year we tried to cap it at 300 and found that we had more people that wanted to come but we were sold out. So we assessed a way to bring it to 350 and never would have guessed that we would sell out,” said Merchants’ Toy N Joy President, Mindy Sass. Sass, who has been the organization’s president for several years now, has served on the committee for the past 25 years, dedicating countless hours to volunteering. This year’s theme, ugly Christmas sweater, was one the committee had been wanting to do since 2020 but had to postpone due to COVID. “It was a lot of fun. … Almost everybody came wearing some sort of an ugly sweater,” said Sass. Three lucky guests were even awarded for wearing an “ugly, uglier and ugliest” sweater. Attendees were treated to a fantastic catered dinner by Sunshine Catering, with drinks served by the St. Helens Elks Lodge.
According to Sass, more than 240 donated items were auctioned and raffled off. Both individuals and local businesses contributed items like gift baskets, gift cards, clothing and so much more to the silent and live auctions that were held. For those unable to attend, gift certificates were made available online for people to place bids on. The event ran for just five hours, from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m., and managed to raise $53,100. “Our job at Merchants’ Toy N Joy is to raise money and then give it away,” Sass stated. This year, funds were divided up and donated to the following recipients: the Columbia River Fire & Rescue Volunteer Firefighters Association’s Toy N Joy program, the Columbia Pacific Food Bank, St. Helens Kiwanis’ Holiday Hope program, the Community Action Team for their meal program and the Scappoose Share & Care. Due to all of the amazing local people, businesses and organizations who put in their time and support, the annual Toy N Joy Auctions have been able to raise over $793,000 from the time it started decades ago up to today. The total amount includes the funds raised in this year’s auction. For 41 years Merchants’ Toy N Joy has been teaming up with others in the area to help give back and build up those organizations that are so vital to the health and safety of the community as a whole, benefiting all those who live within it. To stay up-to-date on what the organization is doing visit their Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/ ToyNJoyAuction. For any inquiries please email: MerchantsToyNJoy@gmail. com or call (503) 396-0533.
Courtesy photo
This year’s theme of ugly Christmas sweaters was proudly worn by nearly all of the 350 people in attendance.
Courtesy photo
The Merchants’ Toy N Joy Auction, held on Dec. 2 even had Santa in attendance, spreading joy during this amazing annual fundraiser that benefits the local community.
Heritage Days theme art contest open Originally published in The Chief Vol. 132 December 15, 2023. WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.
Last year’s winner Kaydence DeCaro.
Courtesy photo from Nikole Young
The Clatskanie Chamber of Commerce is once again accepting submissions for the 2024 Heritage Days Theme design contest, and they are due Dec. 22. The Heritage Days planning committee, which the Clatskanie Chamber of Commerce oversees, began the design contest two years ago as part of a new tradition to engage local teen artists between the ages of 13 and 19 with the Heritage Days celebration. Kaydence DeCaro was the winner of the 2023 Heritage Days theme design contest and won $150, an art kit, and public recognition. The theme was “The Best Show In Town.” Of course, the winning design will also dictate the theme of this year’s Heritage Days. “This is a valuable opportunity for a local student artist to receive public recognition and award money for their talent and creativity. I was president of my high school’s art club, won some awards in high school for my
art that earned me college affordable and fun event that scholarships, and went on educates and showcases our to minor in graphic design,” rich traditions in a familyChamber Board Director friendly atmosphere.” Nikole Young said. “This The artwork must be ultimately led me to celebratory in naa career in marture and circular keting where I in design. now manage The Heriproduction tage Days projects Commitwith large tee would groups of also like artists like the artist designers, to include videoga statement raphers, with their writers, and submission more. It’s never that provides a too early to start rationale about why Courtesy graphic working on your the piece reflects Last year’s winner their appreciation portfolio!” Kaydence DeCaro. of Clatskanie. The requirements for a submisYoung wants to sion are that the artist be make sure that people know between 13 and 19 years old the contest is open to all in and live within Clatskanie’s the area. public district boundary. “I’d like to emphasize The submissions are due that this contest is open to by Dec. 22, but Young said all area students no matter there is some flexibility if where they attend school,” the student or their parent Young said. “If you live in reaches out to her if they are or near Clatskanie, attend having trouble meeting that Heritage Days, and have deadline. something positive to say The art can be in any about your town, we want to medium, but “it must align see your artwork!” with the Clatskanie Heritage Days Mission.” The mission Email submissions or is “to bring the community questions to Nikole Young at together by providing an nikole.young@outlook.com.
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