FREEHOLD — The Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad’s first Life Support Boutique and Gift Auction was such a success, members decided they are going to do it again.
The March 24 fundraiser was the first of its kind for the squad, whose only fundraising efforts previously have been its annual mail campaign.
The gift auction, which was held at the ParkAvenue Elementary School, brought in approximately $8,000 from the eight-hour event that saw several hundred people enter the doors of the school, according to Bill Madden, veteran member of the squad and trustee.
Part of Madden’s role as a trustee is to help the first aid squad raise about $200,000 per year, so it can continue to operate. Because donations have been down in recent years, including this year, the first aid squad tried something new, and not only did it work, Madden said, “it couldn’t have gone any better.”
Judi Guy, a lifelong resident of the borough who recently moved to Freehold Township, chaired the event. She and Madden created a committee of members whom Madden said all worked very hard to make the event a success.
In addition to Madden and Guy, members of the committee were: Mary Alsager, Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad Auxiliary; Carol and Fred Camisa, Freehold Township; Sheryl Mott, Freehold Borough; Annette Jordan, Freehold Borough Board of Education president; Lisa Tiedemann, Freehold Borough; Heather McAllister, Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad Auxiliary, Freehold Township; and Noel Olivarius, Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad EMT, Freehold Township.
The event, which was held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., offered 42 tables for vendors at $30 each. One vendor was Freehold Jewelers, which bought gold and silver and also donated a percentage of the proceeds to the squad. Representatives of Longaberger baskets, Avon cosmetics, Mary Kay, Tupperware, Pampered Chef and many others also participated.
There were handmade knitted and crocheted items, scented candles, handcrafted jewelry and beauty supplies.
Various gift items as well as gift certificates to restaurants, delis and local businesses were crafted into 80 decorative baskets and presented as auction items.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the first aid squad.
Guy, who works for the CentraState Healthcare Foundation in Freehold Township, said she used her work-related skills to help the squad coordinate the event.
Guy said she also was able to use the foundation’s list of vendors as a starting point for the squad’s fundraiser. She said the foundation offered to absorb the cost of fliers and postage.
In an interview, Madden said that Guy did an “amazing job” of organizing the event from the get-go.
“She made all the hard work look effortless, and she did a super job,” Madden said.
“It all went so well,” he said, commenting that committee members went out of their way to participate.
“We had them assigned for three-hour shifts, but most of them were having such a good time they stayed for the entire day,” he said.
“And we had so much help from the community as well.”
The enthusiasm for the event was clear in Madden’s voice as was the excitement he expressed when he spoke of winning four tickets to a Yankees game donated by Freehold Township Mayor Anthony Ammiano.
“I bought $20 worth of tickets and put them all in the box for the tickets,” he said, adding that he couldn’t believe he actually won them.
Madden said that tickets for the auction were three for $5, seven for $10, and 17 for $20, which Madden said was the better deal.
Among the other donations was $200 from the family of the late Bill Conover, also a squad member, who made the donation in his memory.
“I can’t thank everyone involved, including everyone that came out for the event, enough,” he said. “And we were all very happy with the results. It could not have worked better and we had a very good turnout,” Madden said.
He added that the squad auxiliary had a concession where they sold hot dogs and food that did well.
Guy, who chaired the event, said that everyone worked well together and everything went smoothly.
When asked if she was ready to gear up for another gift auction for the squad, without hesitation, Guy said, “Yes.”
Madden said he is hoping to offer another gift auction for the squad around the Christmas holidays.
Among others offering support for the gift auction were Investors Bank, East Main Street, Freehold Borough, and New Jersey Community Bank, Freehold Volkswagen, CentraState Healthcare Foundation, and Group One Auto Sales, all Freehold Township.
Local artist Leslie Daley also donated hand-painted original pastel artwork.
According to Guy, Freehold Borough Councilman Michael DiBenedetto, Freehold Borough Council President Sharon Shutzer, Freehold Township Mayor Anthony Ammiano and Freehold Township Committeewoman Barbara McMorrow donated items for the auction, while other members of the governing bodies chose to give financial donations.
Freehold Borough Mayor Nolan Higgins, Shutzer, Ammiano and McMorrow were all present at the event.