Community steps out to support Soap Lake students

EPHRATA — The Soap Lake Parents for Kids organization held their sixth annual Boots and Bling Auction on Saturday at the American Legion Post 28 in Ephrata.

“(The event was) an amazing display of student support,” said Kandice Hansen, Soap Lake Elementary School Principal.

The event featured several different games and treats. There was a live auction, silent auction, raffle, wine pull, bling bags and dessert dash. The event raised about $6,500, Soap Lake Student Support Secretary Amanda Wolther said.

Dinner was the attendee's choice of prime rib or chicken cordon bleu with salad, baked potato, corn and a roll catered by Top Gun Catering out of Moses Lake. The cost for dinner also came with about a dozen raffle tickets for prize baskets.

There were a couple dozen different silent auction packages which included handmade art items from Soap Lake Elementary classes, home decor made by Peter Sharp of Sharp Development and gift certificates to restaurants and businesses around the Columbia Basin.

In the live auction, auctioneered by Chantel Kimball of Booker Auction Co., were big packages such as Spokane Indian box seats, a signed football and rookie card by Tyler Lockett of the Seattle Seahawks, a Seattle Mariners Julio Rodriguez signed baseball and a one-night stay at the Coeur d'Alene resort and Casino.

Kimball donated her time and talent as an auctioneer for the event that night.

All the proceeds for the event benefit Soap Lake School District students, primarily for educational field trips.

Hansen said this was the first fundraising event they held since the start of the pandemic and that she thought the auction turned out really well. She also wanted to make sure to thank all the volunteers and organizers who made the event happen, as well as those who donated their skills and products to be auctioned at the event.

Rebecca Pettingill can be reached via email at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.