- Features
- By Dave Mast
- September 9, 2023
- 900
Like any home, the Holmes County Home is built around family, and part of that extended family are the members of the Holmes County Home Auction Committee, who set their sights on improving the quality of life for residents at the home.
The annual Holmes County Home Benefit Auction will take place Sept. 15-16 at the county home, and the event continues to be a critical part of providing for residents.
“We wouldn’t have what we have without our faithful, willing donors who have supported us over the years,” said Roman Miller, who took over as auction committee chairman two years ago. “Our community understands what the county home provides and the important role it plays in our community.”
Former chairman Aden Hershberger reiterated that sentiment, noting that when this auction first began, it was much smaller, with one person going out into the community to collect donations.
Today it has grown 10-fold from those early days, and Hershberger said the many people behind the scenes who pull the auction together work hard without fanfare because they see the big picture.
“It’s been a real blessing to me and to all of us who have worked on the committee to see it become such a successful venture and to know that what we do is making life better for everyone at the county home,” Hershberger said.
The weekend festivities will begin the evening of Friday, Sept. 15, with food and volleyball highlighting the night. Starting at 5 p.m., there will be a supper of kettle stew, a fish fry, soft pretzels, coffee and soft drinks, along with a bake sale for those with sweet tooth cravings. In addition, the evening will center around a gigantic volleyball tournament that draws tons of teams and a massive crowd that always turns out to watch well into the night.
“We also invite people to stop in, and they can check out all of the items that will be at the auction,” Miller said.
Saturday is flush with activities, highlighted by plenty of auction activity.
Before people settle into their auction seats, they will want to enjoy the full breakfast, which is by donation. The breakfast will begin at 7 a.m. There also will be a bake sale starting at 8 a.m.
From 8-11 a.m. there will be a silent auction featuring loads of items, and at 10 a.m. the lunch line for the barbecue chicken dinner will open. Also by donation, the meal will include chicken, sausage, noodles, baked beans, hot dogs, potato salad, fruit, pie, homemade ice cream, soft pretzels and kettle corn. There also will be a group selling a variety of coffee.
The miscellaneous and furniture auction will begin at 8:30 a.m.; a secondary auction location will kick off at 9:30 a.m.; specialty items will go at 12:30 p.m.; the quilt auction will be at 1 p.m.; lawn furniture, barns, buggies and bikes will begin at 1:30 p.m.; and the kids auction that allows kids to bid for toys will start at 2 p.m.
Perhaps there are no better words to express the importance of the county home auction than those of the residents themselves.
Jay Baker, a resident since 2011, said he enjoys all of the food the auction presents, and he likes perusing all of the auction items.
“I like seeing all the people who come out to support the residents,” Baker said. “I’m appreciative of all of the things (the auction) provides for residents, especially the parties and birthday and Christmas gifts.”
The support from the community and knowledge that the people of Holmes County care about the residents is a recurring theme.
Barbara Warters, a resident since 2018, said her family supported the auction before she became a resident, and now she enjoys auction day when she can go up with her daughters and experience all of the action.
“I love the whole atmosphere and that so many people come out to support us,” Warters said.
Bill Lockard has been a resident since 1999. The longtime resident said he’s seen and experienced many of the county home auctions through the years and has enjoyed seeing it grow into the event it is today.
Lockard said he likes seeing all of the people come to support the home and appreciates the activities that the funds provide for the residents, something that continues to keep the spirits up for all the residents.
Deb Miller, county home executive director, said the focus of the home has always centered around creating a better quality of life for its residents, so hearing them show appreciation is heartwarming.
“The residents realize the importance of this event and that these people who come are here for them,” Miller said. “They love the hustle and bustle of the auction and the volleyball and, of course, the food, but they recognize the purpose and are very grateful because it does add to their quality of life.”
Part of that is the number of parties, events and outings that come courtesy of the generated funds. Part of it is the gifts the home is able to purchase for special occasions, and they also benefit in the many improvements to the home that are derived from the auction.
Miller said this past year has seen the home renovate the main living area where residents gather to fellowship, as well as improvements in the upstairs restrooms, and they are improving the technological capabilities.
“We try to make it the most accommodating and comfortable as possible for our residents,” Miller said.
The auction reiterates the importance of support and family to the county home. Miller said the residents not only have their own families, but once they become members of the home, they also have a new family of staff and residents who care for one another.
The Holmes County Home is located at 7260 state Route 83, south of Holmesville.
