Port Angeles downtown merchants are holding a silent auction for thousands of dollars in merchandise, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the American Red Cross to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The auction begins today and runs until 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24.
In addition:
* A planned benefit for homeless pets in Sequim on Sept. 24 has become part of the Katrina relief effort.
* Kitsap Bank branches in Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Ludlow are accepting donations to the American Red Cross for the disaster relief effort in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
* Radio station KONP 1450 AM in Port Angeles is participating in Broadcast Unity Day today to raise awareness and money for Katrina’s victims.
Each participating Port Angeles downtown business is advertising its auction item in a window, or entrance door, with the item and bid sheet inside.
Winning bidders will pay directly to a Red Cross representative who will be at the downtown fountain between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Sept. 24 to collect the funds.
The silent auction is sponsored by the Port Angeles Downtown Association and is being coordinated by Jan Harbick of Five SeaSuns Bed & Breakfast, a member of the association’s board of directors, and Arla Holzschuh, the association’s executive director.
To participate, or for more information, contact Harbick at 360-452-8248 (e-mail jan@seasuns.com) or Holzschuh, 360-457-9614 (e-mail: pada@olypen.com).
The merchants listed below are participating in the silent auction; more may be added later:
(Bid sheets for service businesses like Heritage Tours are at Brown’s Outdoor, 112 W. Front St, and Quilted Strait, 139 W. First St.)
All Flags Travel; Alley Cat; Art Space; Bay Variety; Brown’s Outdoors; Copies Plus; CrabHouse Restaurant; Diamond Gallery;
EdenScapes; Electric Beach; Ernst Fine Art Photography; E-Z Pawn; Family Shoe Store; and First Federal Savings & Loan.
Other participants include: First Street Haven; Golden Crafts; Golden Gate Restaurant; Heritage Tours; Kolleen’s Korner; Kokopelli’s Restaurant; Laurel Barber Shop; Laurel House of Beauty; Lowden Garage Antiques; Mathews Glass Co.; McLean’s Shoes; Michael’s Divine Dining; Necessities & Temptations and Downtown Hotel; and Northwest Duty Free.
Participants also include: Olympic Stained Glass; Parker Paint; Peninsula Bible Bookstore; Peninsula Daily News (PDN); Port Book and News; Quilted Strait; Red Lion Hotel; Retroville Cottage; Rick’s Place; Romantic Notions; Specialeyes; The Cat’s Meow; The Toggery; The Two of Us; Tom Bihn; Victoria Tourist Bureau; Waters West; Weisfield’s; and Wesley’s Fine Art.
The downtown association held a similar silent auction last January which raised more than $5,665 for the American Red Cross to help victims of the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami in South Asia.
Broadcast Unity Day
Radio station KONP’s participation in Broadcast Unity Day today is part of an effort among broadcasters nationwide to raise awareness of — and money for — victims of Katrina.
Throughout the day, KONP will air messages urging area listeners to donate to the American Red Cross and Salvation Army.
KONP will collect checks and money donations at its studios, 313 W. First St., Port Angeles.
At the end of the day, the station will forward donations to the Red Cross and Salvation Army.
The National Association of Broadcasters announced last week that local radio and television stations across America will raise a minimum of $100 million.
The Broadcast Unity for Katrina Relief initiative, approved by the association board of directors during a special conference call, includes a $1 million cash donation from the association to the American Red Cross.
Kitsap bank branches
Kitsap Bank is accepting donations to the American Red Cross for the disaster relief effort.
Contributions will be collected through Oct. 3, and the funds will be forwarded weekly to the Red Cross Relief Fund.
Kitsap Bank operates three branches on the North Olympic Peninsula: 716 Front St., Port Angeles (360-457-8189); 990 E. Washington St., Sequim (360-683-9855); and 102 Village Way, Port Ludlow (360-437-7863).
Pet benefit
“Tails to Trails,” a planned benefit for homeless pets in Sequim, has become part of the Katrina relief effort.
The event is scheduled for Sept. 24 at Carrie Blake Park, 202 N. Blake Road.
Proceeds from “Tails to Trails” were earmarked for the Welfare for Animals Guild and the Clallam County Humane Society, two of the event’s sponsors.
But with Katrina taking its toll not only on humans but also on pets, sponsors of the event have decided to give 50 percent of the proceeds to animal rescue and relief efforts in the hurricane-stricken area.
The day’s activities include dog dancing, a dog variety show, several mini-seminars, pet photos, food, entertainment and a benefit walk.
Walkers are encouraged to gather pledges and compete for prizes, including a $100 cash prize for the person with the most pledges.
For information about pledge sheets, call 360-460-6528 or 360-683-2226.
Registration for the walk begins at 9 a.m. Events are scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.