news-record.com

Shopping might never be as fulfilling — spiritually or bargain-wise or both — as the two-hour silent auction and hot dog supper for charity at Community in Christ Presbyterian Church on Friday.

In the market for sports memorabilia?

How about an oceanfront town house at North Topsail Beach for a week?

Or a weekend at Smith Mountain Lake?

Members have donated these and a slew of other items for auction — everything from antique jewelry to art — as Community in Christ looks for ways to do mission work for others.

Might a bidding war break out over home Duke basketball tickets, club seating for the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats or suite seating for the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes?

"That would be a good thing," gushes church member Kathryn Solee.

Good for more than half a dozen local mission programs supported by Community in Christ, including the nonprofit Maggie and Erma's House, a Greensboro drug and alcohol recovery program for single women and mothers whose substance abuse has cost them custody of their children.

"They are unfunded and they do good work and they need help," says Solee, who is on the church's auction organizing committee.

Other charities include Habitat for Humanity, Greensboro Urban Ministry, In As Much, Appalachia Service Project, the UNCG Campus Ministry and more.

Because the items have been donated, the minimum asking prices might start out as low as half their value — or less.

"People are out for a deal and we understand that," Solee says. "Last time there were bidding wars for some items, popular things that people wanted. Some items went for over value and other popular items went for less than the stated value.

"We have sufficient quantity and dollar value that if we sell everything less than the actual value price we will still do very, very well," she added.

Looking for a homemade quilt? There will be $1-a-ticket raffles for laptop quilts made by seasoned quilters in the congregation.

For years, the 100 families of the church have pledged money for church programs and missions.

This is the second auction congregants have undertaken, with more items this year focusing on members' talents.

Ever known someone who can cook up ribs just right? A church member will auction off a batch to feed a family. A lay chef and wine aficionado in the pews will prepare a four-course gourmet dinner for four at his home and provide transportation.

Others have signed up to provide popular professional services, such as home appraisals and landscaping installation.

And of course, there are the gift certificates to shops and restaurants.

But if all else fails, and you walk away empty-handed, the hot dog dinners are a real giveaway: $2 per adult and $1 per child.

Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 373-7049 or nmclaughlin@news-record.com