Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis gearing up for 75th annual Summer Auction
DOVER-FOXCROFT — For seven and half decades Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Charities has invited the community to come and bid on items of all sorts at the organization’s annual Summer Auction. The 75th annual event will be held the evenings of July 24-25 at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds with proceeds benefiting various Kiwanis charities.
“We’ve raised a lot of money over the years and it’s all been locally for the kids and it’s fun,” said Auctioneer Paul Davis — who has been doing this for over 20 years. Funds raised would not be provided otherwise, the Summer Auction chair said while sitting on a fairgrounds barn porch where he will be conducting the auction in several weeks.
“I think it is one of the things that Piscataquis County has that an awful lot of people in the area look for every summer, especially the summer people who come, and have a good time,” Davis added.
PICKUP CREW — From left, Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Summer Auction Chair Paul Davis. Dr. David McDermott and Austin Seavey load a donated treadmill into Davis’ pickup from a Range Road home for the annual Summer Auction. The 75th annual event will be July 24-25 at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds.
The 2025 Summer Auction includes two nights of the live auction on Thursday, July 24 and Friday, July 25, starting at 5 p.m. and lasting until dark.
Prospective bidders can view items in the barn an hour prior to the start of — with limited numbers at a time – from 4–5 p.m. on July 24-25. Anything not sold over the block by the end on Friday will be available at the barn sale on Saturday, July 26, running from 10 a.m. until all is gone (at approximately noon).
The Summer Auction will include Foxcroft Academy’s Bargain Barn, an indoor yard sale featuring various goodies attendees can pick up by paying to fill a bag. The Bargain Barn opens at 4 p.m. on July 24-25.
A separate Book Barn is filled with various titles.
FILLING THE BARN — Items donated to the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis 75th annual Summer Auction are stored for the event July 24-25 at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds.
“It’s packed full,” Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis President Beth Ruksznis said. “People say ‘come get my books,’ they’ve read them. It’s lots of hardcovers in pristine condition, it’s not junk paperbacks.”
Kiwanis Secretary Rita Page organizes the books by category such as religion, travel or finance to help seekers find what they are looking for with proceeds supporting the Kiwanis.
Food trailers will be fully stocked with red hot dogs, burgers, French fries and dough boys. The Beverage Express will be on site for those not wanting to wait in the food line to quench their thirst.
More than 40 businesses have donated to the silent auction, Ruksznis said.
BARGAIN BARN — Smaller auction items will be available in the Foxcroft Academy Key Club’s Bargain Barn at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds.
Items include a whitewater rafting trip, septic tank pumping and restaurant gift certificates.
“The silent auction gives people a chance to bid more than once whereas over the block, if you’re not there you missed it,” Ruksznis said.
There will be a 50/50 raffle and big grand prize raffle with a $500 cash prize, supporting the Kiwanis’ after-school backpack program at the SeDoMoCha School to send students home with nutritious foods for the weekend.
The auction has raised close to or more than $20,000 annually, Davis said.
Funds benefit Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Charities including Kiwanis Park located next to the Piscataquis Area Community Center. Other endeavors are Hooked On Fishing – Not Drugs, the backpack program, Center Theatre drama program, swim program, Friends of Community Fitness, Piscataquis County Soil & Water Conservation District summer camp, Piscataquis Regional Food Cupboard, academic awards for Foxcroft Academy and Central High School Key Clubs, Builder’s Club, meals for seniors and the annual Christmas Project.
“They have continually focused on raising money for kids,” Kiwanian Dr. David McDermott said.
The club ran a swim program at Sebec Lake years before the former Piscataquis Regional YMCA opened in the late 1980s and the Kiwanis offered a lunch program before the start of a federal lunch program.
Item donations are being accepted through Tuesday, July 22.
“We have been to Ellsworth, we have been to Monson, we have been to Harmony, we have been all over the place picking up stuff,” Davis said.
This year pickups will be on Tuesdays from 5:30-7 p.m. through July 22 (other arrangements can be made if needed). Messages can be left at 207-270-0536 for pickup to be coordinated.
Donations can be left at the barn at any time as Kiwanis members appreciate all who contribute.