Over $33,000 in merchandise will be auctioned off Saturday night during the 18th annual Bids for Kids event. The Tifton Exchange Club organizes the event, which is held to raise money for Tift County agencies that work to prevent child abuse.

“We have had an overwhelming response from the generous businesses of this area and we are looking forward to another great night,” said Tom Conner, Exchange Club president. “We have some great art, jewelry, trips, food and lots of other items and services that will be up for bid. The commitment of this community to fighting child abuse is pretty evident by the support of these businesses and we couldn’t do it without them.”

The event will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday and will be broadcast live from Northside Baptist Church. It will be televised live on Channels 7 and 11 on both Mediacom and TiftNet and on the Wiregrass Channel, Channel 3 on TiftNet.

Additionally, for the first time ever, the auction will be aired live on WTIF 1340 AM and 99.9 FM. For those who must be away from the television on Saturday night but would like to bid, they can listen on radio and know when the items they are interested in come up.

The biggest item on this year’s list is a 2007 EZ Go golf cart donated by Shiver Carts and valued at $2,995. The cart has a rear flip seat, headlights and taillights.

“I think it’s the first time we’ve had a golf cart and we’re very appreciative to the great folks at Shiver Carts for making such a great donation,” Conner said. “That will be a great prize.”

Once again, Dr. Don Wayne Roberts and his wife Wanda, longtime contributors to Bids for Kids, have donated a piece of art for the auction. This year, the selected piece is titled “Azalea Path,” a limited edition, hand- embellished painting, No. 17 of 350. It was created by the husband and wife team Kevin Miles and Wendy Schaefer-Miles in 2005. The painting is 28” x 19” and includes a black and gold ornate frame, which makes its hanging size 28” x 39”.

“It’s a beautiful piece and I’m sure we’ll have a lot of heavy bidding over that,” said Tyron Spearman, an Exchange Club member who also serves as the event’s Master of Ceremonies. “Dr. and Mrs. Roberts have been so generous over the years and we really do appreciate it. One lucky bidder is going to definitely go home with a fantastic painting Saturday night.”

Over 200 items will be auctioned off and bidders will have a set time to bid on the item before it is “sold” and more items are added. Four boards will be open at all times throughout the night and largest items will be placed on the “Big Board” and “Mega Board” which will remain open throughout the night.

“For those who are bidding, you’ve got to get in there early and get those bids in and then keep an eye on what’s going on,” Spearman said. “It works out best when you just call in early and put a high bid up there and not have to worry about getting outbid at the last minute. It gets pretty hectic on those phones.”

A full-page advertisement in Saturday’s Tifton Gazette will feature all of the items which will be up for bid this year. Those who called in the winning bids will be called back after the time closes out and told that they have won. Bidders can pick up their merchandise at 2 p.m. Sunday at Northside Baptist Church on Fulwood Road. Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted.

All moneys raised will be dispersed to agencies in Tift County which deal with the prevention of child abuse. Since its inception, the Exchange Club has raised and donated over $210,000 to help fight child abuse in Tift County.

“Child abuse and neglect continues to be a problem nationwide and certainly here in Tift County as well,” Conner said. “We have a lot of fantastic agencies in our community that deal with it on a daily basis. But with the times as they are, funding cuts have hampered their efforts. We hope that we can help with their efforts with the proceeds from this event.” We think it’s an investment in our future.”