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After a successful first run last year, the Domestic/Sexual Assault Outreach Center decided to hold its annual cake auction online again this year.
Historically, DSAOC's annual fundraiser was a literal cake auction, but COVID caused the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 auctions, so last year they decided to move it online, according to Program Development Director Leah Bair.
"We don't have enough staff or the volunteers to pull together a big event like we have in the past," Bair said. "And with the response that we got from last year, a lot of people really like this option because life is just really busy for a lot of people and this gave them the option to be able to participate without feeling like they missed the night of the event."
DSAOC serves 20 Iowa counties, helping victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, trafficking, homicide and other violent crimes. Its 28-bed shelter serves men, women and children. While much of DSAOC funding is from state and federal grants, the remainder comes from the agency's resale store, the Key on Central, and the cake auction.
"The state and federal grants do not cover all of our expenses throughout the year and it does not fulfill our budget," Bair said. "So this event really fills in that gap that we have between the grants. This is very vital to what we need to continue providing the services that we do."
This year's online auction opened on Thursday and will run through April 4. New things will be added to the auction each day, Bair said. Auction items can be viewed at https://cakeauction2023.givesmart.com.
"All of our items have been generously donated by the community and by businesses," Bair said.
Items for auction include a Traeger grill, electronics, household packages, trip packages and plenty of Easter baskets. There's also an option to purchase raffle tickets for a $500 cash prize raffle. The raffle will be drawn on April 5.
Winners of the auction item will receive an extra gift that will tie in the cake theme, Bair said.
For those who don't find something they want to bid on -- or they get out-bid -- there's an option to make a cash donation on the auction site. Donations can also be sent to Domestic/Sexual Assault Outreach Center, P.O. Box 773, Fort Dodge, IA 50501.
DSAOC serves 20 counties in Iowa -- Hamilton, Wright, Webster, Humboldt, Kossuth, Boone, Story, Greene, Marshall, Hardin, Grundy, Franklin, Butler, Tama, Winnebago, Worth, Mitchell, Hancock, Cerro Gordo and Floyd.
In 2022, the organization served more than 1,000 clients, Bair said.