Fundraiser turns people away as locals turn out in droves
Lisa French and Darin King performing.
Dan Pudelko allowed everyone a quick vist with Vincent the puppy before he found a new home with one of the bidders.
A packed house at the Paradise Hall, Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort, ready to enjoy the night. (Erin Jusseaume/ Clark Fork Valley Press)
The live auction items were displayed up on the stage for bidders to check out (Erin Jusseaume/ Clark Fork Valley Press)
Clint Weedeman, a Plains local, received an outpouring of love from the tiny community as the fundraiser event held in his name had to turn people away.
“We [Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort] wanted to do our part to help Clint and his family. We donated the event hall here and we have chefs out back putting together a great spaghetti and meatball dinner,” said event manager of the resort Denise Moreth.
Weedeman was injured on the job when he fell from a roof he was working on, sustaining serious injuries that saw him transported to St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula.
Not only was the benefit event a huge ‘hit’ with donations from local businesses and residents, both live and silent auctions produced some good money from bidders.
The .270 rifle, that was up for grabs on the night was first won by Mike Hamm of Plains before he donated the riffle back into the pool to be auctioned again.
The rifle, gaining two go-rounds with a packed crowd, raised $1300.
When it came to auctioneering off the bevy of items, it was local Gene Johnson who donated his time on the mic to help encourage all that turned up to bid.
The live auction boasted 60 items up for grabs and close to $10,000 raised. The silent auction items were spread around the events center at the resort and some saw heavy bidding from an early hour. Forty items in total included some great keepsakes and also some unique items worthy of under the Christmas tree.
Friends of the Weedeman family also pitched in for the evening’s events by helping man the front table where guest paid a small donation for dinner, and also picked up an auction paddle.
Though there were residents of Sanders County that were turned away from the event due to its popularity, which was quickly going to exceed the population limit for the hall, they still donated.
There was an estimated 230-plus people that made it inside to the fundraiser event. With close to 100 bidders grabbing a card to ensure they could bid on their favorite item.
It would seem though as the biggest draw card of the night was the pure bred black Labrador puppy that was only just 8 weeks old be auctioned off.
Vincent (puppy) was donated by Dan Pudelka for the auction. When asked why he decided to donate such a large and precious item he simply said, “We are one big family in this town.”
Vincent was scooped up by Paradise resident Diane Gueths for a total price of $425.
The Weedeman family would have felt some much needed local love with close to $20,000 raised in the one night.
“We’re just doing our part for our community by helping with the little things so hopefully the family can concentrate on Clint’s recovery and not the bills,” said Moreth of the local resort helping out.