Haiti Benefit Auction moves to new location

YATES COUNTY--The annual Haiti Benefit Auction will take place for the 17th year this weekend at the Finger Lakes Produce Auction in Penn Yan. Hundreds of items will be auctioned off to help benefit missions in Haiti. With all labor being done via volunteers and all items in the auctions donated, 100 percent of all the proceeds will go directly to HBA associated missions.
"We are excited about it and we look for a good turnout with a lot of product coming in to sell," said Tim Horning, chairman of the HBA board. "I really think it is going to be a good auction."
A registered non-profit, the HBA helps missions in Haiti that have to reapply for funding every year to ensure high standards of care. Money goes to schooling, books, food and sometimes housing.
"There is a wide range of stuff that the 20 or so missions that we support do and they vary on the kind of programs they run," mentioned Horning.
Now in its 17th year, Horning, who has been with the HBA since the beginning, said Haiti was chosen primarily due to its proximity.
"There are great needs in other areas... but this is one country that is relatively close to us," said Horning.
That proximity allows members of the HBA to travel back and forth between the United States and Haiti to ensure all money that has been raised is accounted for and spent how it was meant to be spent.
This year Horning said there are hundreds of items big and small up for auction, everything from power tools to an entire garage.
"Everything is donated, and it could be a number of people donating one item," said Horning. "A number of garages, people build different parts."
With so many items donated from local families and volunteers lining up to give their time, Horning said the auction shows how special Yates County is.
"It definitely says something good about the area," Horning added.
Along with taking place at the Finger Lakes Produce Auction, experienced auctioneers are volunteering their time to ensure everything moves smoothly throughout the weekend. Prior to the pandemic, the auction was held at the Yates County Fairgrounds.
"That is how we operate with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the cause, because we don't pay any labor," said Horning.
The auction starts on Friday, June 18 with a fish fry and roast beef dinner at 4 p.m. before moving onto the miscellaneous auction at 6 p.m. On Saturday, June 19, breakfast will start at 6 a.m. before the auctions begin at 8 a.m. which will include furniture, quilts, and large items.
The Finger Lakes Produce Auction is located at 3691 State Route 14A, Penn Yan.