PHILLIPS — More than 130 mostly new items will be on the auction block Saturday night when the Phillips/Strong Lions Club holds its first, large fundraising auction.

The auction takes place Saturday, Nov. 6, at Phillips Middle School where doors open for previewing at 5 p.m. and the bidding starts at 6 p.m., club Treasurer David Morgan said.

Proceeds will assist people in need of eyeglasses or who have hearing issues or diabetes, he said.

“There’s quite a selection of items, some nice stuff, mostly new, some used,” he said.

One of the larger items, an old double-runner sled that can hold half a dozen people goes on the block along with a new pair of snowshoes, a pack basket, new tires, a generator and much more, he said. Many area businesses have contributed.

The Phillips eighth-grade class will cater the event with hamburgers and hot dogs to help raise money for their class trip.

Morgan and his wife, Nancy, are no strangers to organizing large auctions. They did several for the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area. This one will be similar to those, he said.

The club formed last spring and held its first Lions Day in July, with games and activities.

The Lions Club in Farmington opened its new thrift store this summer, the Wilton Lions Club holds a large annual flea market and the New Portland group sponsors the New Portland fair.

“We’re just trying to find our niche,” Morgan said. “We want this to be the first of many years. All money raised will stay right here in these communities.”

The group has already purchased a couple pairs of glasses. One was for a man who hadn’t had a new pair for 14 years.

“He’s happy he can see now,” Morgan said.

Some members of the club are also pitching in this month to make up Thanksgiving baskets for some area families, he said.

Committed to serving the community, the group meets every two weeks. One meeting is held Wednesdays at the Phillips school and then two weeks later the group meets at the Forster Building in Strong. There are 21 members. Anyone interested in becoming a member or learning of its programs is invited to call Morgan at 639-3717.

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