Angel Wings Network is in need of donations for the Idaho Gives event

As part of the annual Idaho Gives event, Angel Wings Network is hosting a second annual online silent auction. The auction will run April 25 through May 5 at 5 p.m. Donations for the auction are being accepted through April 10. 

 Idaho Gives is an annual statewide event that encourages support for nonprofits around the state. Angel Wings participates in Idaho Gives each year. The event encourages Idaho residents to visit the Idaho Gives website: www.idahogives.org and donate to a nonprofit of their choosing.

 Idaho Gives officially runs May 2 through May 5, so the auction will start earlier and give people more time to bid leading up to the event. People can give monetary donations to Angel Wings through the Idaho Gives platform. https://www.idahogives.org/organizations/angel-wings-network-inc.

 In the past Angel Wings has paired the Idaho Gives event with a  culminating  in-person event with a live auction. However, of course due to COVID, last year was the organization’s first year doing an online auction event. The online auction, however, was a big success and everyone seemed to like it, so they decided to repeat the online event.  

 In 2021, the spring event (Idaho Gives and Online Auction) brought in nearly $21,000, surpassing the original goal of $15k. This year, the goal is to reach $25,000.

 Spokesperson Carie Lawrence shared that there are already several wonderful donations coming in.  Some of the items already received include cash donations, gift baskets, autographed books, handcrafted wooden models, jewelry, and restaurant gift certificates.  

 While many items have been donated, more donations are needed.  Popular items that sold well last year were restaurant gift certificates, jewelry, art, photography sessions, music and sports memorabilia, home accessories, travel packages, local artistry, nail or spa gift certificates, handbags, coaching lessons, pet pampering baskets, wine and food baskets, variety of gift cards, golf packages. Single items are welcome and they can usually add them to a larger package. 

 A small pool of volunteers are currently contacting individuals, organizations, and businesses to procure donated auction items. Any businesses that donate are eligible to have their business logo on the social media pages and website in appreciation for their generous donation.  

 “We love to showcase donors and sponsors as much as we can because we could not run our programs without the generosity of the community,” Lawrence said. The most up to date info can be found on the Facebook page @AngelWingsNetwork. There, you can find links, details, auction item previews, etc. 

 Angel Wings Network, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit that serves cancer patients in the rural communities within a 70-mile radius of Weiser, which includes about 17 communities. Cancer patients in rural areas do not have the easy access to the resources available in bigger cities. Many rural folks lack support, services and resources. That is why Angel Wings was founded. To fill in that gap.  

 Donations go directly to funding the programs that benefit cancer patients in our rural communities. 

 “Wheels to Recovery” is the largest program, which provides financial support in the way of gas cards for cancer patients and caregivers to get to and from treatment. With current gas prices, this is a HUGE expense that is going to be far larger than anticipated for this year. One of the new programs this year is grocery cards to help with food insecurity. Many cancer patients have to quit working during treatment or they are already on a limited income. 

 Other services include prayer blankets, comfort bags, transportation to treatment, a lending library full of great books and resources, restaurant meal cards to offset the cost of eating on the go, cleaning for a cause, prosthetics and wig services, weekly outreach at Cancer Infusion Center, meal train service, emotional support, guidance, and the Cancer Care Pals program: a new program to better connect our volunteers with cancer patients.

 This Idaho Gives event is one of two major fundraisers that Angel Wings puts on each year. As a nonprofit, the donations are essential. The Idaho Gives and Online Auction Event is the big spring event that brings in donations to keep the Angel Wings programs running all year long.