The holiday shopping season is in full swing, and people looking for gift ideas need to look no further than their TV screens.
The 35th Rotary TV Auction will run live Friday and Saturday evening on Your TV, Channel 700 HD. Over 400 items will be up for bids both nights from 7 p.m. to 12:22 a.m., with featured items auctioned off in the final block of each night.
Rotary Club President Chuck Roy said people will have a chance to see what's being offered before the auction.
"We have something for absolutely everyone," said Roy. "I encourage everyone to visit the website at www.tvauctionrotary.com to view all of the items we have to offer this year. It is quite impressive. The phone number, to etch into your memory this weekend, is (519)-250-1100."
Those who go to the website will not only be able to scope out the items they want to bid on but also follow the auction live in real-time and track their bids.
The auction will include the usual staples such as gift cards, dining certificates, artwork, wine, sports tickets, and automotive services. But, Rotary Auction TV Chair Debra Henshaw said there will be some special items added.
"A great friend of our Rotary Club donated their 1968 World Series Champion Detroit Tigers baseball adorned with hand-written autographs from every member of that team," said Henshaw. “We will also be auctioning off a large-sized handcrafted wooden model of the Bluenose II, a framed print of Bobby Orr’s famous Stanley Cup-winning goal from 1970, an Ergo-friendly stand-up desk, and perhaps the most 'hard to get' gift this Christmas, a PlayStation 5."
Blackburn Media personalities participating in the auction include the Mix 96.7 FM morning team of Jay Marchillo and Tori Roovers, and WindsorNewsToday.ca assistant news manager and morning anchor Adelle Loiselle.
All proceeds from the auction will go toward dozens of charitable and humanitarian projects overseen by the Rotary in Windsor-Essex. The goal of this year's auction is to raise $60,000.