Santa Anonymous raises more than $34,000

“By 2 p.m., I was really worried,” recalls Todd Schmidt, owner and operator of Waseca’s Boxcar Bar and, for 28 years, the organizer of an annual auction to benefit the county-wide Santa Anonymous program.

 

The auction takes place each year at the Boxcar Bar beginning at 5 p.m. on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year, a storm moved in Saturday afternoon and eventually delivered more than 5 inches of snow.

 

“But people came,” observes Schmidt, revealing that more than $34,600 was raised during this year’s event.

 

Schmidt knows of some faithful attendees who travel an hour or more: one customer who usually travels two hours chose not to brave the storm, but checked in by phone to bid on and eventually buy an item he had seen listed online.

 

More than 100 items donated by area business owners and individuals were sold Nov. 29. 

Schmidt explains volunteers mail out notices to area businesses beginning in October, then begin collecting, storing and organizing items as they are donated.  He credits Missy Pfeifer and Brittany Ziemke for their persistence and reliability in helping with preparations.

 

On the day of the auction, the 100 or so bidders are a mixture of people who’ve come especially for the event and regular Boxcar customers. 

 

“It can get pretty lively,” Schmidt says of the bidding. “If you’re looking for a bargain, you’re in the wrong place. People are determined to spend some money; they want to donate.”

 

Some tell him as they’re paying that they were among the children who benefitted from the Santa Anonymous program, and that’s why they’ve come.

 

“I’ve seen pizzas go for $60,” mentions Schmidt, “and sandwiches for $60 to $70.”

 

Some in attendance also simply donate cash.

 

When the auction is over, proceeds are donated to the Waseca Area Neighborhood Service Center (WANSC), which acts as the “financial umbrella” for Santa Anonymous. Money spent in one year is used to acquire needed items during the following year’s holiday season.

 

According to WANSC director Cindy Kolander, her organization receives applications and determines whether applicant families are eligible. The work of receiving and trying to meet requests for selected gift items falls to another set of volunteers, among them Beth Krause, who supervises a delivery space set up in an area church. Families make appointments and visit to receive not only any toys or gifts, but quilts made by the members of various local organizations, coats, and winter gear.

 

Altogether, any one gift might be the result of work and donations from 10 or more people.

The reward for those 10 people, according to Schmidt, is priceless.

 

“We wake up on Christmas morning knowing all those kids who might otherwise not have gotten anything are out there opening presents and having a merry Christmas.”