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Idaho Enterprise

Crisis Center Gala set for Feb 24; Virtual auction begins today!

Holly: Crisis Center Director Holly Llewelyn, with some of the lots up for auction at this week’s Gala

The annual Oneida Crisis Center Gala is scheduled to take place on February 24 at the Oneida County Event Center.  The event will host a live auction for a number of local and regional lots, all in the service of providing funding for one of the community’s most important support organizations.  The Gala is the Center’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and helps to support their operations throughout the year.  A virtual auction will begin on February 23, which is available to anyone to bid at https://givebutter.com/c/occ2023. Dozens of items are available for bid, including gift cards, ski lift passes, rifle scopes, crafted furniture, handcrafted clothing items, toys, and many other things.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Oneida Crisis Center, which began in 1998 when Malad resident Debi Healy saw a need in the community for assistance to those affected by domestic violence.  The Crisis Center was started with a $5,000 grant from the Idaho Council on Domestic Violence.  Debi began as the single volunteer of the Center, operating a 24-hour crisis line.  With the first month, she had already served eleven clients.

In 2005, the Oneida Crisis Center was incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit, operating out of the airport’s pilot lounge.  The next year, the Center won the airport house at auction and became the first (and still the only) victim advocacy service and emergency shelter in the county.  In 2011, an addition to the building became the OCC office.  In 2017, Carol’s Pantry opened in honor of Carol Cailford, the executive director of the center from 2005-2017.  In 2022, the Warmth and Wellness building was opened to provide basic living essentials.

From its humble beginnings, the Center has blossomed into a vital part of the community’s support network, with three full-time employees, a bookkeeper, and many amazing volunteers.

In 2022, figures from the Crisis Center state that community members donated 9,550 hours—stocking shelves, assisting food bank patrons, helping in the office, and assisting with maintenance and upkeep.  The crisis line volunteers answered 147 crisis calls, and 60 individuals received advocate services.  The shelter was reported to have provided 493 bed nights for individuals and families.  The Warmth and Wellness program provided household items to 242 community members.  489 senior food boxes were distributed, and 1,388 individuals received food relief from Carol’s Pantry.  With the Interfaith Council, 35 Christmas Food Baskets were distributed.  38 kids were provided with a merrier Christmas through Toys for Tots.

In a rural area such as Oneida County, the Crisis Center is an invaluable resource for families and individuals whose lives have been impacted by abuse.  The Center provides not only a shelter to remove victims from immediate danger, but also a place where strategies for overcoming related issues can be taught, and tools for achieving healing, safety, and security.  Director Holly Llewelyn, Housing Specialist Advocate Marcia Stocks, Outreach and Awareness Advocate Milena Jimenez, CAC Forensic Investigator Jeanie Jones (and support animal Sneaky Cat) work tirelessly to make sure that the community has as much support as possible in what can be life-changing circumstances for county residents.  

The community itself has a chance to make sure the Center is able to operate throughout the year during the Gala event.  Reservations for the live auction are already filled, but the virtual auction is a great way to support the Center through bids for donated items.  None of the funds raised from the auctions go to administrative costs, but are put back into the programs and services offered by the Crisis Center.  

The live auction will include lots such as the “Breakfast, Come and Get it!” donated by the Probst family, which includes a wood crate filled with pancake making supplies, a waffle iron/griddle, a variety of syrups, fresh honey, and other items; a handmade babydoll cradle, mattress and blanket, doll, and burp cloth donated by Lawrence and Marsha Schow; “Good Lookin’” lot with Diamondback binoculars, baseball caps, Wolf blanket, balaclavas, and a 24-can cooler backpack; and a lot from the Black Swan Inn in Pocatello with a reservation gift certificate, gift card to the Sandpiper and Buddy’s, and jewelry.  

The Oneida Crisis Center encourages those interested in supporting their mission to explore the virtual auction lots online.  Donations directly to the Center are always welcomed as well.