43rd Annual Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction to be held Dec. 10-13

LACONIA — The 43rd annual Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction, presented by Hannaford Supermarkets, will be held from Tuesday, Dec. 10 to Friday, Dec. 13 at the Belknap Marketplace in Belmont.

The auction occurs live at the marketplace and airs daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. A variety of items will be up for bid each day, and friends and neighbors from throughout the community will appear on the set. Watch the event on Lakes Region Public Access television viewers can tune into Channel 25. The auction will also stream live at ChildrensAuction.org, on The Laconia Daily Sun’s website at laconiadailysun.com and on Facebook.com/ChildrensAuction. Listen to the auction each day with Zack Derby and friends at Lakes 101.5 FM.

On Friday, Dec. 13, auction volunteers will come together to announce the total funds raised for children and families in need.

Jennifer Kelley, executive director of the auction, said “We are grateful to everyone at the marketplace for welcoming our hundreds of auction volunteers into their space. The auction is such a valuable community event. Business leaders throughout the Lakes Region continue to show their generosity as we raise funds to financially support local children and families in need.”

George Vernet, owner of Vernet Properties, which oversees the marketplace, said, “It is an honor to be associated with such an outstanding organization as the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction. It provides so much to the Lakes Region community. The Belknap Marketplace looks forward to hosting this event that financially supports local children and families in need.”

The auction will host its second annual family night on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Attendees can have their picture taken with Santa, meet the Grinch, build a toy in Santa’s workshop, decorate holiday cookies, face paint, sing along with the Snow Family and hear holiday stories; children will get a free book courtesy of the local Kiwanis Club.

The auction still needs donations of new, unused, non-perishable items, big and small. Gift cards are always a hit with bidders. Other popular items include electronics, tools, tickets to sporting events, toys and services.

Convenient item collection sites are now open throughout the region. Visit ChildrensAuction.org for details. On Nov. 29 and 30, visit the collection site at the Belknap Marketplace to drop items off between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Also donate items on Dec. 7-9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Belknap Marketplace.

Bid online at ChildrensAuction.org or over the phone during auction week at 603-527-0999. Pre-bidding begins Friday, Nov. 29.

For more information, visit ChildrensAuction.org.