Guests at the the Assistance League of Fullerton’s first ever “Brunch & Bid” event smiled, laughed, mingled and ate pastries, fruit and coffee while waiting for a fashion show featuring clothing from the Assistance League’s thrift shop.
The event, held in the George G. Golleher Alumni House on Nov. 18, raised $4,350 for the league’s philanthropic programs, said event coordinator Katherine Saldivar.
“The fashion show was totally overwhelming. I didn’t realize how much goes into a fashion show because I was like, ‘Oh, cool we’ll just pull the clothes from the thrift store and we’ll model them,’” said public relations major and event organizer Daniel Trandell-Smoke. “But it goes into like getting models to volunteer, getting their sizing and then even the day of, making sure we were able to have them try everything on beforehand.”
The thrift shop was a big part of the league’s success in 2016 and helped raise $256,000 to give back to the community, according to an Assistance League of Fullerton press release.
People could buy many different items at the event’s pop-up shop, including items featured in the show.
Clothing drive participants got a raffle ticket for a drawing of gift baskets filled with goodies like gift cards and candy.
The gift baskets were donated by companies including Medieval Times, Tesla, Inc., Target, Brea Improv Comedy Club and the Callaway Vineyard & Winery.
The most expensive basket was the Anaheim Ducks basket, courtesy of Plasticolor Inc., which included Ducks paraphernalia like a hockey puck signed by center Ryan Getzlaf. The basket was worth $1,100 Saldivar said, but its starting bid was only $300.
The Target gift basket had the most bids and eventually went for $212. The third highest bid was on the “Night Out” gift card bundle, which contained cards for Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen, Matador Cantina, JP23 BBQ & Steakhouse, Yard House, Heroes Bar & Grill and Buffalo Wild Wings, as well as two mugs and a bag of hot cocoa mix. It went for $153.
“The silent auction has been really cool. They came up with some really fun items. Like they’ve got this protein one, with the biggest amount of protein powder, shakes and drinks that I’ve ever seen in my life. So, it’s a bodybuilders dream. It’s hilarious,” said attendee Jeanay Jensen, a senior broadcast journalism major.
The league hosted the event— which came about as a class project for a public relations capstone course— to raise awareness for the league’s mission and its significance in the community, as well as bring joy to those in need of preparation for the holidays.
“(The event helps) in two ways. It generates funds for our programs and brings in a new clientele which would be your collegiate-age students,” said Assistance League of Fullerton President Kaaren Hathaway. “They’re looking for classy, cute things and things they might need for their dorm or their apartment, and they’ll find them in our thrift shop.”
