Kingston 2007

“Do you want a Belgian Waffle-maker…without paying for it?  Do you need a diamond necklace to salvage a relationship or impress your mother?  Do you want a 7.2 Megapixel digital camera… for free?”

With those words of encouragement, over 100 students at Queen’s University participated in the first ever Time Auction on Thursday, November 29^th, 2007 in the lower John Deutsch University Centre (JDUC) at Queen’s University. The event raised 705 volunteer hours for 9 charities in the Kingston area.  The Kingston Time Auction had a rule of 50 hours maximum per bid item (which has now been scrapped).  Roughly $1,500 worth of products were up for bidding.

30-year veteran auctioneer Tim Potter facilitated the bidding, and free food was offered.  Some of the items participants could bid on included a PlayStation Portable (PSP), a Belgian waffle maker, a diamond necklace, a large spa package from the Body Shop, and a dinner with then Principal Karen Hitchcock from Queen’s University (paid for by her).

A variety of local charities were present before the event to showcase the work that they do, including Martha’s Table, Big Brothers and Sisters, Alzheimer’s Society, Almost Home, the Salvation Army and more. The basis behind the Kingston Time Auction was to promote volunteerism within the Kingston area and to provide opportunities to university and high school students who don’t where or how to get involved – especially if they need to complete hours of mandatory community service.

The event was created and run by the Queen’s Millennium Chapter – a group of students who have received the Canadian Millennium Scholarship – which is awarded to students who have demonstrated academic excellence and community philanthropy throughout their young lives.

See the generous businesses that donated items!

Check out some of the charities that received volunteer hours!