Annual missions auction aims for success

Lauren Estes-Velez, Hartselle Enquirer

FALKVILLE- Each year mid-November, community members come together to help fund a feeding center for a year in Guatemala through two local missionaries.

Danny and Kim Lopez, former youth pastors and members of Fairview-The Grace Place, are now full-time missionaries in Guatemala. For months, planning, donations, behind-the-scenes work and effort come into play to bring the annual Feeding Center Auction at Fairview Church.

Event planner Nikki Miller said it’s easy to want to be involved in the planning and success of this event because it touches and helps so many people.

“We have a heart for Guatemala. We have a passion for serving, loving and feeding these beautiful people, particularly in the San Pedro Las Huertas area,” Miller said. “The connection with Guatemala didn’t happen by accident. Fairview’s former youth pastor and his family, Danny and Kim Lopez, started a ministry in Guatemala four years ago. Both Hartselle natives, the Lopezes live day in and day out teaching the love of Jesus to the children and families in their area.”

The event this year, held Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. was sold out.

“I attend because it is super fun, great food and for a great cause,” said Erin Osborne, who attended last year. “I look forward to see what products or vacations can be bid on in the silent and live auctions … I find it important because it brings everyone together to help feed and serve the people of Guatemala. I really liked the silent auction more than anything. There were so many things I wanted, and it was fun trying to outbid other people to see who won.”

For Taylor Garrison, this was her first time attending the auction. To say she was thrilled about it might be an understatement.

“I am so excited to be able to finally witness what all goes down behind the scenes and how much effort is put into this major fundraising event,” Garrison said. “I think the auction is extremely important because it provides the funding for the feeding centers all year round. Any of the excess is used by Danny and Kim to go directly toward a need they see in Guatemala.

“Nothing raised is wasted – that’s guaranteed, and that means a whole lot in the world today,” Garrison added. “Too many times there is money raised that isn’t used for what it’s supposed to, and that just ruins fundraising for other groups, but this auction maintains a small hope for good and allows us to provide meals and care for those children in Guatemala.”

In 2016 the event brought more than $35,000 to be given to supply the feeding center in Guatemala.