(PEQUEA CHURCH) -- The Table Community Church and Pequea Church invite everyone to the 12th annual Bids for Kids Auction benefiting the churches’ youth ministries on April 18-19. A certificate auction and donation-only dinner will be held on Friday, April 18 from 5-7 p.m. Saturday’s main auction will begin at 8 a.m. and will feature collectibles, antiques, certificates, sports memorabilia, furniture, plants/trees/shrubs, and even home-made items from the youth themselves. This year – with the help of their leaders – they will build two swing sets, sandboxes, a garden trellis, a picnic table with benches and children’s picnic table. The events on both days will be held in the New Life Center. Click here for directions.

Youth from both churches have been working hard to prepare for this huge event. The auction is the largest annual fundraiser for the groups; the monetary goal for this year’s event is $20,000 to be divided between the two ministries. Both groups send teens on community service trips. In years past, teens have traveled to New York City to put on a Vacation Bible School, to Philadelphia to work in a thrift store and to Mississippi for hurricane relief. They are planning this year to go back to the gulf coast as well as go to VA to do small home improvement projects and a Kids Club with the organization YouthWorks. The funds raised also go toward youth group activities and to expand youth ministry locally.

The event is getting bigger and bigger every year with hundreds of people showing up to support the teens. “I think people really see the benefit of helping kids help others,” said The Table Church’s Director of Youth Ministries Heather Hershey. “The teens also love to help out by putting themselves up for bid by offering babysitting or yard work services; they may not have items to donate, but they can change diapers, pick weeds or rake leaves.”

Donations for auction items are coming in, but you can still donate items by dropping them off at Pequea Church during normal business hours. Items can be arranged for pick up as well by calling 606-7869. Items generally fall into one of these categories:

Unique Experiences
Vacations / Weekend Getaways
Sports & Entertainment
Home Decor
Toys and other Children's Items
Indoor/Outdoor furniture
Plants
Celebrity Souvenirs
Fine Arts
Jewelry & Apparel
Novelty Baskets
Collectibles
Antiques
Professional Services

A food stand will sell delicious refreshments all day long. Chicken corn soup, hamburgers/hot dogs, pies, whoopie pies, soft drinks and coffee will be sold at a reasonable price.

Pequea’s Xtreme Youth Ministry and The Table’s G-Force look forward to having you join them for an exciting event. If you have questions regarding the Bids for Kids auction, please call 717-606-7869.