Elbow grease up for bid

WINSTED — When a lagging economy prevents folks from getting things done around the house, lingering projects tend to pile up, making life even more difficult. But if you’re lucky, you might find someone who’s willing to help out.

With that in mind, the Winsted Elks Lodge is presenting its first-ever Elbow Grease Auction this Saturday, Nov. 7, at 6 p.m.

Elks member and organizer Kim Schlosser said this week that the Elbow Grease Auction is no ordinary auction. Winning bidders will receive not goods, but services, as in when you made a bet with your best friend as kids and the loser had to be your slave for the day.

“We were talking about doing this event several months ago and someone said, ‘Let’s do a slave auction,’� said Schlosser. “I said, ‘You can’t do that!’ Obviously, we needed to come up with a new name, so we brainstormed and came up with the Elbow Grease Auction.�

All who attend Saturday evening’s event will be able to bid on services provided by members of the Elks Lodge, who will then schedule a time to help you with a range of chores. Members have signed up to rake leaves, cook dinners, give motorcycle rides, wash cars, take professional photographs and write résumés. Two of the bigger items up for bid include light carpentry work done by Schlosser’s husband, Matthew, and a magic show by magician Damon Papp.

“It’s all for a good cause, the Elks National Foundation, which supports our soccer shoot, hoop shoot and scholarship programs,� Schlosser said. The foundation also supports Winsted’s annual Youth Banquet, in which local children receive awards for sports and academics.

The Winsted Elks Lodge is located at 75 High St., Winsted. For more information, call 860-379-8045.

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