A benefit auction to help build a special needs school for Mennonite and Amish children took place on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, on Middle Creek Road outside Lititz.
A school finds a home
Hidden Gems Special School began in 2015 and was temporarily housed in the basement of Woodcorner School. In August 2016, construction began on a new two-room schoolhouse that would become home to Hidden Gems and Millway Parochial School.
The auction was organized to help pay for that building.
Bring something, buy something
Billed as a “Bring Something, Buy Something” auction, the sale encouraged attendees to bring baked goods or any items to sell. Donations were accepted in the days before the sale, and organizers offered drop-off and pickup for larger items.
The sale featured new and used farm equipment, horse-drawn wagons, carts and even a pony. There were quilts, croquet sets and canning supplies, along with new and used household items, shrubs, planters and baked goods. Photos of auction items were posted by Beiler-Campbell Auction Services.
Food all day
As at many Lancaster County benefit sales, food was a big draw. Homemade offerings included breakfast sandwiches, pulled pork, chicken barbecue, soft pretzels, sausage sandwiches, ham and cheese sandwiches, subs and soft-serve ice cream.
Bakers supplied pies, breads, cookies, rolls, sticky buns and many other treats.
Details
The auction began at 8:30 a.m. at 315 Middle Creek Road, Lititz.
Those who could not attend but wished to give were invited to send checks payable to the Hidden Gems School Fund. Volunteers Ray Zimmerman, Jessie Martin and Carl Hursh coordinated donations and pickup.
The tradition of the benefit auction
Benefit auctions are a fixture of life in Plain communities in Lancaster County. Mud sales, school sales and fire company auctions raise money for schools, fire companies and medical needs, and they draw buyers from well beyond the local community.
The format depends on generosity at both ends. Neighbors donate goods, labor and food, and buyers often bid more than an item’s value because they know where the money is going. Many families plan their spring and fall calendars around these sales.
Schools in Plain communities
Amish and many Old Order Mennonite families send their children to one- and two-room parochial schools, typically through eighth grade. The schools are built, funded and run by the community, with parents serving on school boards and families sharing costs.
Children with special needs often require more individual attention than a traditional one-room school can provide. Special schools like Hidden Gems give these students a dedicated setting with teachers focused on their needs, while keeping them close to home and within their community.
Community support
The project reflected the cooperative spirit that runs through northern Lancaster County. Building a new schoolhouse depends on donated labor and materials as well as cash, and a successful auction can cover a significant share of the cost.
For many attendees, the day was also a social occasion: a chance to visit with neighbors, share a meal and support children in their community.
How to help
Support for projects like Hidden Gems typically continues long after a single sale. Donations of materials, labor and funds help cover the costs of finishing and maintaining a school building, and community members often return for future benefit sales.
A day out in the country
For visitors from town, a benefit auction offers a glimpse of rural Lancaster County life: auctioneers calling bids in rapid rhythm, rows of equipment and household goods, and long tables of homemade food. Buyers are encouraged to arrive early to inspect items before bidding begins.
This article was originally published in September 2016.