Othello Old Hotel holds another successful benefit auction

OTHELLO — Amid the tractors and tillers, over 100 attendees filed into the Othello RDO Equipment Co. building Saturday evening for the Othello Old Hotel Art Gallery’s annual benefit auction.

The Old Hotel Art Gallery held its annual auction fundraiser Saturday at the RDO Equipment offices in Othello, bringing together hundreds of community members dressed in Hawaiian shirts who came out to support the town’s heritage site.

The fundraiser, which auctioned off dozens of donated items, raised $24,358, said art gallery director Jenn Stevenson. The Old Hotel’s annual auction raises funds for the non-profit to maintain and expand its services and facilities, auctioning off big-ticket items donated by members of the community during a night of fun, food and costumes.

The theme this year was a Hawaiian luau, as attendees dressed in floral shirts and leis dined on pulled pork from Smokin’ Wood BBQ, Annette’s famous dinner rolls, Hawaiian fried rice, and a variety of salads including ambrosia salad, pasta salad and corn salad and sweet breads.

Some of the big ticket items up for auction included a getaway to the Coeur d’Alene Resort, a whale-watching cruise, as well as a number of highly popular foods. One of the most iconic of which was the pie-a-month for a year offer by Diana Brault, Old Hotel Art Gallery board president, returning for yet another year.

“People come every year, knowing this is up for grabs,” Stevenson said.

Another popular item is the Reichert’s Showhouse big bucket of popcorn with tickets to movies and concessions. Beef from Sunny Farms, jerky from TLC Meats, art, antiques and gift certificates and items from local businesses were also donated for the auction.

Restaurant vouchers were also up for grabs, donated by Rob and Shelia Simmons as well as Classic Grilling.

“We get a lot of support from local businesses,” Stevenson said. “We can’t survive without them.”

Funds from the auction help the Old Hotel accomplish the four goals of its mission statement, said Jenn Stevenson, including supporting arts and arts education, preserving historical structures, boosting tourism to the region and promoting cooperation between the state’s heritage organizations.