By Sheila McGrath
WKTV Contributing Writer
A capital campaign to bring improved services to people experiencing homelessness will get a boost from an upcoming auction.
Mel Trotter Ministries is hosting its first Art & Experience Auction on Thursday, March 24, featuring 85 items up for bid in both live and silent auctions.
In addition to art works, auction items include a trip to Mexico, a signed guitar from Christian recording artist Matthew West, wine tastings paired with a local restaurant, a sports package, and a private chef experience in the winning bidder’s home.
Beth Fisher, chief advancement officer at Mel Trotter Ministries, said auction proceeds will go to an ongoing capital campaign to benefit Day Center operations at Heartside Ministries, which merged with Mel Trotter Ministries in 2020.
Art pieces were donated from personal collections and local artists, including guests of Heartside Ministries.
“Heartside Ministries has a longstanding art therapy program,” Fisher said. “Many of the pieces that will be at the auction were created by Heartside Ministry guests in the art ministry program.”
Interested bidders can already browse through silent auction items online. A link to the auction site is online at meltrotter.org/events.
Items not included in the silent auction will be auctioned live at the event on March 24.
Auction organizers reached out to artists who had a connection to Mel Trotter Ministries or Heartside Ministries and found many who were willing to donate their art to the cause.
Ben Dykstra, who specializes in fine art, architecture and portrait photography, donated three of his photographs. He said he was on Mel Trotter Ministries’ mailing list because he volunteers every year at the organization’s Thanksgiving dinner. He was happy for the opportunity to “pay it forward” by donating the photographs, which had been on display in his home.
“Service, to me, is something that’s vitally important. I think it’s the hidden ingredient in any blessed life,” he said.
Shannon Andrus, a mixed media artist based in Rockford, is on the leadership committee for the auction. She donated two pieces as well as a “Brushes and Brews” event at Hearts for the Arts, her studio. Ten people will get a two-hour art class along with pizza and beer from Mitten Brewing Company, which is owned by her husband.
Andrus founded the art studio in 2008 as a place for students with cognitive and physical disabilities to get art therapy, skill building and entrepreneurial training.
Two of her students, Bradley Spidell and DJ Pezzato, donated pieces of their art to the auction.
“Homelessness has been an ongoing issue, especially during Covid, and now more than ever people need to give back and help,” she said.
The Art & Experience Auction will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 24 at The High Five GR, 19 LaGrave Ave. SE. The event is free, but space is limited. To RSVP, or to become a sponsor, go to www.meltrotter.org/auction.
