The Kiwanis Club of Aurora will hold Basket Auction, with many of the baskets collectible Longaberger baskets, in order to raise funds for the many programs and agencies that it supports, and for the American Cancer Society. The Basket Auction will begin Friday, June 4 at 8 a.m. and will end Sunday, June 13 at 6 p.m. The baskets can be viewed and bid on by visiting the website at www.32auctions.com/aurorakiwanis. Direct donations can be made at the site.
In 2019, a friend of two of the Kiwanis Club members passed away after battling cancer. The friend was an avid collector of Longaberger baskets and these two Kiwanis members were the grateful recipients of many of her baskets. A basket auction is held with proceeds going to both the Kiwanis Club of Aurora and to the American Cancer Society in memory of their friend, Kathleen Rees.
With its major fundraisers not held last year because of the COVID-19, the Kiwanis Club raised funds in alternative ways. Club president Steve Beatty stated that, “The past year and shutdowns have created many unforeseen effects and made it difficult for clubs such as ours to raise funds in the traditional manner. This auction will help allow us to continue at our current level of funding for programs, projects, scholarships, and other worthwhile organizations in our area.”
The Kiwanis Club’s mission is to help children and families in the Aurora area and, as such, has been continual supporters of the Aurora area food pantries, youth sporting events, including boys baseball and girls softball, the Aurora Public Library Foundation, and provide scholarships to students each year. In addition, the Club sponsors Kiwanis-related leadership programs at schools, including East Aurora High School, West Aurora High School, Aurora Central Catholic High School, and Aurora University.
— Kiwanis Club of Aurora