Nica Riahard-Vasquez, left, and Maddy Foley apply stucco during a Mexico Mission Trip.  Photo by Laura Erickson

By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN

On Saturday, more than 45 campers and their closest friends will work hard to raise funds to travel during spring break and lend a hand to their fellow man.

The 30th annual spring break Mexico Mission Trip for the United Church of Los Alamos will take place in April, but this weekend a fundraising silent and live auction will assist in raising the funds for the building supplies and food needed for the team.

“We have many great gift certificates from campers and church members for child care, yard work, dinners, said Laura Erickson, the trip co-leader along with husband Randy. “There are some Native American pots, a turkey fryer, furniture and sports equipment, art work and housewares.”

The team has spent the week picking up larger items throughout the community as the auction normally held on Sunday has been changed to Saturday. The auction actually contains two fundraising opportunities, a silent auction from 2-3 p.m. followed by a live auction.

The silent auction begins will the issuing of paddle numbers. Each silent auction item will have a bid sheet, and bidders write down their paddle number and a bid amount. When the magic hour of 3 p.m. arrives, the bid sheets are snapped up as a financial team enters all the data into a computer for easy checkout and payment.

During that time, shoppers can sit in on the live auction usually reserved for larger items including items church members and the community have donated that might fetch a larger amount. These items include fancy dinners, hand-made like quilts, purses and paintings along with trips and more. The more exotic items allow for a festive time as an occasional bidding war may arise.

Local businesses pitch in year after year to support the community youth and their adults teams as they travel to Puerto Penasco for a fun, yet labor intensive week.

“We also have many gift certificates and items from our local businesses,” Erickson said. “These are for restaurant meals or overnight stays.”

The entire community is invited to support the big event. The United Church is located at 2525 Canyon Road and can be reached at 505.662.2971.

UNCHLA’S first trip began in 1986 and will include members of the Unitarian Universalist Church for the fourth year. The collaboration combining congregations and various community members will build three homes in just five days.