Benefit dinner, auction for Ovitt a raging success

PLAINS - A local resident was in need of help, and the community answered Saturday at a benefit dinner and auction at the Plains VFW post.

Doug Ovitt, 63, has lived in Plains since 1972, working for the old mill in Thompson Falls for 25 years, and then was the propane man for Northern Energy for eight. Ovitt retired from Northern Energy last year, and shortly following retirement, was told the most harrowing news.

“After I retired, I had the idea of fishing and hunting, but when you get told you have cancer, that kind of puts the skids on things,” Ovitt said.

Ovitt and his family immediately set to action, and in the months following, he underwent major surgery, His entire lower jaw was removed, and bone from his leg replaced the bone. Ovitt still has more surgery for his mouth, as well as a series of radiation treatment. All of this is costly, and on a retiree’s budget, things were getting tight. Donna McCrea, who is Ovitt’s mother-in-law, organized along with other family and friends, a benefit dinner and auction to help Doug out as well as show support for his struggle.

The turn-out was more than they could have imagined.

“It was great, and it made me feel wonderful,” Ovitt said. “It’s amazing how this town can get behind someone when they need help. All the help, the food - it was all just so great. From the bottom of my heart, I am so grateful.”

The dinner and auction raised around $6,000, which will go towards Ovitt’s medical, travel and living expenses for when he goes to Seattle for six weeks for radiation treatment.

“When they’re done with that, I’ll come back here and recuperate for a while,” Ovitt said.

Gene Johnson, the auctioneer of the event on Saturday, anticipated a good time due to the size of the crowd. “This [was] quite a turn-out, which is a lot more fun for an auction,” he said.

Local businesses and individuals donated items for auction, and things such as baked goods, a rifle, paintings, gift certificates, gift baskets, and rustic decorations were auctioned off. The kitchen was kept busy as guests ate homemade food by local chef Jackie Cummings. The full-packed VFW hall was buzzing with laughter and reassurances that everything was going to be okay.

“All these people here - it’s fantastic,” Donna McCrea said. “But then, this is typical for Plains and even Sanders County. Because every time someone needs help, people help.”