Hospice Labor Day auction continues tradition of bidding for a cause in Quarryville

Dawn Fisher was in the market for a handmade, king-size quilt. She figured Hospice & Community Care's 42nd annual Labor Day auction would be a good place to get one. Such quilts go for about $1,500 on average, she said. Fisher spent $2,000 on a mariner's compass pattern with varying shades of grey and maroon fabric making up the pattern on a white background. Fisher, a retired dental assistant who lives at Landis Homes in Manheim Township with her husband, Eli Fisher, didn't think she overpaid at all. 'It's very beautiful. It's made by local people. They've (Hospice) helped my family out a few times,' Fisher said Monday at the 42nd annual auction — and the Fishers' first. 'If anybody's ever used hospice, they (Hospice) deserve it,' Eli Fisher said. Use it they do. Hospice serves just shy of 700 patients a day, and last year, between its grief, palliative care and hospice services, Hospice served more than 25,000 families, said Michael Link, president and CEO. 'This fundraiser is just a critical fundraiser for us. We provide hospice services for anybody in our community, regardless of their ability to pay,' Link said. Last year, Hospice provided more than $1.1 million in charitable care, or about 5% of its services revenue, Link estimated as he stood outside the building where quilts were being auctioned at the Solanco Fairgrounds in Quarryville. Last year's auction raised more than $1 million, and while final numbers were not expected to be available until Tuesday morning, Link said each auction has surpassed the prior year's tally, going back to 1984, when the auction raised $1,298. That's about $4,127 adjusted for inflation. Auction-goers could also donate $222 to cover the cost of an average day of hospice care. The Day of Care fundraiser, available on the auction's website year-round, is intended to assist patients and their families while they face life-limiting illnesses. 'We believe it's a human right to be able to have access to end-of-life care, and so our community helps support us to make sure that that happens,' Link said. For many years, the auction was held at West Lampeter Township's fairgrounds, but outgrew that space and moved to Solanco in 2016, where it's been held since. (In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the auction was held virtually.) 'We have hundreds of volunteers, both from the Amish community as well as English volunteers as well, to help put this event together. I always say it takes a village, and we have that village,' Link said. One cannot help but notice the large Amish presence. They run the foodstands and assist with bid spotting. The relationship between the facility and the Amish community began decades ago, Link said. 'We were able to serve their community and build that trust relationship, and it's just so critical. And now we just have a really close relationship with the community to be able to have that dialogue. They're often a private-pay community. (But) all of Hospice's patients, regardless of their background, it's about personalized care. … It's a personal journey for everybody.' Over the weekend of the auction, Link estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people would have attended. Food is another draw, Link said. Barbecue chicken. Ribs. Breakfast logs — bacon, egg and cheese in a soft pretzel. Fried shrimp. French fries. Smoothies. Several years ago, the auction began offering a drive-through for people who wanted just food. Hundreds of items were available. All of them are donated, from the 110 or so quilts to a terrarium of succulent plants to furniture to sports memorabilia — it had its own building — to vacation packages. A Chevrolet Trax was also available for raffle. Most attendees know they are at the auction to benefit Hospice, Link said, 'But I do think that people are coming to find that kind of treasure. It makes it the best of both worlds. You're supporting such a great cause, as well as having the ability to be here and find different items.'Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request.