Often times what a charity needs most is exposure. Many people want to get involved or donate to charity; they just don’t know how to find one that they are interested in. That is why it is very helpful whenever a business—self storage or otherwise—gets involved with a charity and helps spread the word.
So if marketing is such a great way to help how come a self storage facility in Canada is going silent in order to help a local food bank?
The answer to that question is easier than you might think. Surrey U-Lock Mini-Storage in Surrey, British Columbia, will be holding a silent auction on August 11 in order to raise money for Sources' White Rock/South Surrey Food Bank.
“We’ve got everything from furniture to tools,”said Katrina Hapay, the manager of Surrey U-Lock Mini-Storage. So far they have had a lot of items donated by tenants including drafting boards, furniture, and some heavy duty tools.
If you’ve never been to a silent auction, the items up for sale will go on display for a predetermined period of time. Interested bidders will sign their name and list a price on a sheet in front of each item. The person with the highest bid written down wins. No talking is necessary and there is no auctioneer; just a pen and piece of paper.
Hapay decided over a year ago that the facility would make Sources' White Rock/South Surrey Food Bank the focus of its charitable efforts. The facility has held a raffle in the past and is hopeful that the silent auction will be something that can be done once every few months.
Supporting food banks is a common endeavor for members of the self storage industry. Many, like Surrey U-Lock Mini-Storage, like to make their efforts continuous rather than just during the holidays. The LifeStorage facility in Mokena, Illinois, kept their food drives efforts going once the holidays were over.
“Our work to help the community come together to donate to the Frankfort Food Pantry will be an on-going effort, with no end in sight while there are people still in need…We’re doing this to try to encourage donations at this time more than ever because while people feel very giving during the holidays, people are still in need of food and other necessary supplies all year round,” Megan Tolbert, the LifeStorage manager in Mokena said.
Sources Used:
“Auction to benefit local food bank.” PeaceArchNews; 01 August 2012.
“LifeStorage-Self Storage Mokena Continues Food Drive for Local Food Pantry.” PRWeb; 13 February 2012.