Last Friday, the Oneida Crisis Center held its annual Gala event, during which several thousand dollars were raised during a live auction to help support the various programs provided by the center.  Additional funds were raised through a virtual auction, which took place through Saturday.  The Dove Award, which recognizes volunteers who have made significant contributions to the Crisis Center and the local community, was awarded to Randy and Sherrie Martindale.

The Gala celebrated the crisis center’s year of operation in the valley, and serves as the primary fundraising event for the center for the year.  Crisis center director Holly Llewellyn and Shelter Operations Manager Terrie Valentine and Forensic Interviewer and Educator Jeanie Jones were on hand to help emcee the event.     

The major sponsors for the event included Oxford Packing, Edith’s Collective, Nancy and Buddy Asay, Iron Door Catering, Janelle Thorpe, Ronnie Keller, PT Solutions, Inc., Dude Ranch Café, Ken Probst, Nell J Redfield Memorial Hospital, and the Probst Cattle Company, LLC. 

Many other companies, groups, and individuals contributed to the auction items that raised money for the center over the course of the evening and the three days of the virtual
auction event. 

The Dove award is given out every year by the Crisis Center to a person (or people) who have directly contributed to the operations of the Crisis Center and helped it fulfill its mission.  The Martindales certainly fit that bill.

The following was read during prior to the presentation by the Crisis Center: “Randy and Sherrie Martindale have lived in Malad for seven years.  They came here from Hermiston, Oregon.  Randy has six children from a former marriage, four girls and two sons, one of them passing as a young child.  Sherrie has four sons from a previous marriage, with one passing away at the age of 26.  Randy and Sherrie have been married for 25 years now.  Randy worked for the Union Pacific Railroad as a mechanic, and Sherries was a hairdresser, and later worked in a school with Spanish speaking students.

For the past four years they have been taking care of Randy’s parents in their home.  This past August they lost his mother, and just a couple weeks ago his father passed away.

Randy and Sherrie can be seen around Malad volunteering and one of these places is at the Food Bank, which distributes food out at the fairgrounds monthly.  You will also see them in Malad’s festive parades, as they drive their battery-operated train and throw out candy to all the kids.  On their train the put up an Oneida Crisis Center banner in support of what we do, and we appreciate that.  Randy is also known for playing Santa and handing out stiffed animals.  He donates a lot of these stuffed animals to the Senior Center as well, and they love getting them as much as the children do.  They can be seen driving around town on their electric bikes as well.

Randy is known as the “The Ice Cream Man” in his ward at church.  When someone moves in, he is there to welcome them with a container of ice cream.

Sherrie and Randy enjoy gardening, canning, and freeze drying.  They have many grandchildren they enjoy as well.  Not only does our community love them, but Randy’s sister showed up tonight to surprise them!  It is our honor to present them with this Dove award, and we appreciate all they do in our community.”

Like the Martindales, there are many members of the Oneida County community who help the center function throughout the year.  While the center is able to stay running through a combination of grants and federal and state funds, the size and existence of many of the center’s programs depend on the volunteering and charitable spirit of those who see a need and work to fill it.  

Both the silent auction and the live auction portion of the evening saw donations from supporters all around the valley and the greater SE Idaho and northern Utah region.  A roomful of bidders also made their way in to bid on items up for auction.

The silent auction featured over 30 lots, covering a wide range of interests.  The lots included things like a 3 night stay in the “Big Bear Cabin” near Yellowstone, a Member’s Mark Pro series charcoal grill, a Rolly Toys Massey Ferguson Kit Pedal Tractor, Sandpiper dinner certificate, quilts, Playstation gift cards, gaming headets, locally sourced honey, teak furniture, Pool pass and swimming gear, Electric air fryer, a trip to Wendover, Vortex binoculars, an autographed b-21 Raider first flight photo, and dozens of other items.  

A number of sponsors donated materials for themed baskets that were bid on during the live auction run by Lynn Livingston.  The items were displayed by members of the Malad Wrestling team and the Mayor’s Youth Council.  

Flower arrangements for the table settings were created by Kelly Neal and Edith’s Collective.

A selection of the baskets includes: a Welcome to Malad basket, with blankets, Malad hoody and sweatpants, Dragons baseball hat and socks for Allen Drug, a Funtastic Lemonade coupon, and a wall hanging from Up the Creek; A “Spring is Sure to Come” gardening basket, containing 100 feet of hose, a tool set, solar lights, gardening gloves, decorative rock donated by the Probst family, and perlite from Hess Pumice and Perlite; “Serenity” basket featuring a bell handcrafted by Doug Adams and a three year old bonsai tree from Brian Llewellyn; “What a Man Needs” basket, with a Diamondback Riflescope from Kents Optics, a gift certificate from NAPA Auto Care Center, Pizza Stop, John Deere leather gloves from Stotz Equipment, an Idaho hat from Heather Corbridge, a hunting tumbler, ear buds, whisky bath wash and Mason jar shotglasses.  Other sponsors who donated to the many available auction lots were: Dianne Johnson Adams, Joe Dood Co, Studio 21, the Pines, Singing Wolf Gallery, Doug Adams, Mandi Hess, Black Swan Inn, Treehouse Museum in Ogden, Kaylie Daniels, Bamma Wamma’s, Swaffles, Volcano Girls, and others.

Over $2,000 was raised during the live auction portion of the evening.  As of press time, totals for the virtual auction were not yet available, though the bidding was reported to
be active.

As the Crisis Center reminded attendees, “Warmest thanks to all our amazing, wonderful supporters.  All funds raised tongith will be ised to assist those in out community.  Together we are educating and promoting healthy individuals, families, housing, and a prosperous community.”

In addition to Llewellyn, Valentine, and Jones, the staff also includes Malena Jimenez, who was not able to attend, and “Sneaky Cat” the emotional support cat who opted not to get involved in typical cat fashion.

The Board members for the Crisis Center include Gabriel Jimenez, President; Melissa Clark, Vice President; Stephanie Crowther, Treasurer; Nancy Asay; Thishara Ward; Kristi Christophersen; Mattie Probst; and Candis Schow.

The Crisis Center can be reached at (208) 766-4412.  The 24 hour crisis line is found at (208) 766-3119.  En espanol, (208) 681-8715.  The Center can also be emailed at [email protected], or stop by the location at 1312 S 2100 W Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Anyone who would like to donate to the Crisis Center after the auction can find information about doing so on the website oneidacrisiscenter.org, including a Venmo account and other donation information.