Pretty dolls bring a pretty penny for Evans Home for Children
Posted: December 3, 2012
The Winchester Star
Winchester
Light-hearted ribbing and steady bidding made the prices climb Sunday at the 43rd annual Evans Home Doll Auction.
About 35 people came to the live auction at the Lloyd House, an alumni house located next to the Evans Home on East Leicester Street.
Most were there to bid on the handcrafted dolls donated to raise funds for the children’s home.
The auction alone raised $6,950, but that number will grow as people who could not make it to the event send in donations, said Collette Hawes, the home’s administrative assistant.
The attendance was slightly higher this year, and at several points, the bidding reflected the increased competition.
“It was nice to see the attendance increase. We like to see new faces and the old faces, too,” Hawes said.
The auction featured 24 porcelain, vinyl and fabric dolls — each dressed differently — that were donated by individuals from the area and out of state, said Marc Jaccard, exexecutive director of the Henry and William Evans Home for Children, who served as co-auctioneer with board member Stuart Wolk.
The two kept up a running commentary on the dolls, pointing out special features such as shoes, accessories or even underclothes to help drive up the bids, which often worked.
The grand prize winner of the judging, which took place Nov. 21, was a Scarlett O’Hara doll made by Susan Ritter that sold for $160.
The top seller of the afternoon was “Purple Crochet,” a blonde doll wearing an elaborate crochet dress, hat and shoes. Board president Ann Wallinger won the doll for $690 after a bidding war with another woman.
But in a little twist, Wallinger agreed to let the woman have the doll for a $500 donation to the home.
“I bid on them to support the Evans Home and to show appreciation for the work that went into making the dolls,” said Wallinger of Stephenson.
Winchester Sheriff Lenny Millholland, who also is a board member, bought several dolls, including one inspired by him. Harleena Davidson was an alter ego he used when he competed in a womanless beauty pageant in September at Lord Fairfax Community College in Middletown.
The doll was complete with leather pants, long blonde hair and a mustache.
First-time doll maker Bev Shoemaker of Stephens City was on hand to watch the two fabric and one porcelain doll she made raise $870. It was fun to learn a new hobby and a good way to help the home, she said.
“This is so important. These people give their time and love to kids who have nobody,” she said.
The Evans Home is a place children can go when they can’t live with their families but would not thrive with a foster or adoptive family, Jaccard said. The house currently has 11 children with two more coming by next week.
“We provide a home for kids who would otherwise fall through the cracks,” he said.
— Contact Laura McFarland at lmcfarland@winchesterstar.com