Get ready to ‘bid to build.’
The 2021 Habitat For Humanity Vancouver Island North (Habitat VIN) #BidtoBuild online auction takes place June 17-27 at charityauction.bid/bidtobuild
This is the second year for this exciting fundraising initiative. The #BidtoBuild online auction was created as a way for Habitat VIN to recoup some of the losses it incurred with the closure of its ReStore outlets at the start of the COVID 19 pandemic.
“It was a risky time to hold any kind of fundraiser, particularly something we had never tried before, but we needed a way to make up for revenue lost due to COVID,” explained Pat McKenna, Habitat VIN’s executive director, after last year’s auction. “We weren’t sure if businesses would be able to donate, and we weren’t sure if people would be open to bidding.”
Organizers were overwhelmed by the response by both the business community and the people of the Comox Valley.
The 2020 #BidtoBuild auction became one of Habitat VIN’s most successful fundraising initiatives ever, raising in excess of $25,000.
With a response like that, bringing the online auction back was a no-brainer. And, naturally, they’ve made it even bigger and better than the inaugural auction.
Cloutier Matthews Professional Chartered Accountants and Temprite Climate Solutions are back as the auction’s presenting sponsors.
Habitat VIN also enlisted ‘registration sponsor’ Brian McLean Chevrolet Buick GMC Ltd to incentivize early registration. Everyone who registers by June 17 will be entered into draws to win one of five $100 gift cards to various restaurants in Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River, and Cumberland donated by the auto dealership.
Also new this year is a bonus for particularly generous bidders. The ‘buy it now’ price for each item will be set at double the established value. Everyone who uses the buy it now feature will receive a tax receipt for the amount above and beyond the established value, and they will be entered into a draw for a ‘Super Special Secret Prize’ valued at $1,000.
“For a lot of our bidders it’s not necessarily about getting the best deal; it’s about raising money for affordable housing opportunities locally,” explained Cady Corman, Habitat VIN’s director of communications and fundraising. “We want to make it really fun and throw in an extra incentive to challenge folks to use the ‘buy it now’ feature. So in addition to getting a tax receipt for the amount above the posted value, bidders will also have a chance to win a very special prize. I can’t say what it is, but I can guarantee it will create some lasting memories.”
Habitat VIN will be giving clues as to what the secret prize is on its social media as the auction goes on. The prize is transferable, and the winner can choose to gift it.
“The auction’s supporting partners The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Courtenay BIA, Downtown Comox BIA, Cumberland Business Association, Campbell River Chamber of Commerce, and Downtown Campbell River BIA, have each lent support by sharing auction information with their members and networks. Media sponsors The and the Comox Valley Record, Campbell River Mirror, 97.3 The Eagle, have gone above and beyond to help spread the word,” added Corman in a press release.
Anyone interested in participating must register on the auction platform to be able to bid. Once they register, bidders can choose whether they want to pick up their items at the Comox Valley ReStore or Campbell River ReStore.
Learn more about #BidtoBuild and register now at charityauction.bid/bidtobuild
–With files from Habitat for Humanity