Art auction to benefit Samaritan Center, RACS

An evening of art, hors d'oeurves and live music will be dually entertaining and philanthropic at the Jefferson City West Rotary Club's 19th annual art auction and exhibition on Friday, Feb. 25.

Admission is free for the event beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City. Complimentary wine and cheese will be served as guests browse the art collection and enjoy the music of the string quartet, Sage Strings.

A cash bar will be available and sandwiches and chips may be purchased for $5 for those who didn't get dinner before the event, said Chris Neff, West Rotary's auction chairperson.

Neff said the club raised about $7,000 last year to donate to two charities: the Jefferson City Samaritan Center and the Rape and Abuse Crisis Service. He said the club voted to donate funds to the same two organizations this year because it finds the community to be in need of those services.

The auction will consist of watercolors, oil paintings and a selection of signed or numbered works by national and international artists. All works are custom-framed and come with a certificate of authenticity.

Neff said the Perry Berns Traveling Gallery, which is bringing about 300 pieces of art, has provided pieces for the auction in previous years. He said the gallery will tailor the selection to the Jefferson City market.

Jim Clardy, executive director of the Rape and Abuse Crisis Service, said the money it has received in the past from the Rotary Art Auction has allowed it to provide everything from shelter for women and children seeking help from abusers to play therapy toys used in counseling.

In a year, the crisis service provides shelter to about 250 women and services such as support, counseling and advocacy to an additional 300-400 women, Clardy said.

He said the money may be used to provide deposits and first month's rent for women who do not want to go back to their abusers.

Clardy said he thought event was a good way for community members to partner with the West Rotary Club, the crisis center and the Samaratian Center.

In addition, he said the art auction allows the community to learn a little bit about the work of the two charitable organizations.

Marylyn DeFeo, volunteer executive director of the Jefferson City Samaritan Center, said the organization split the money it received last year between its food funds and energy assistance funds, which are used to pay electric bills.

The center spends $15,000 every month on purchasing food for the food pantry, in addition to donated items, she said.

She said by the time the organization received the money after the auction last year, there wasn't anything to give to people in need from the funds.

"The more people that come to the auction and buy, the more people we can help," said DeFeo.

People can come and spend thousands of dollars on art, or they can spend $50 to $100 on a piece of art, DeFeo said. Whatever the donation, she said the center appreciates the club and the community for its support.

Contact reporter Natalie Fieleke at nfieleke@newstribune.com.