United Way of the Tri-Valley Board members, Gordie Flint, Chris Kinney and Sharon Cullenberg, display a few of the fabulous auction items that will be available at The Great Charity Auction to be held Nov. 14 in the Bass Room at Franklin Memorial Hospital. For more information about the auction, contact the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area at 778-5048. FARMINGTON — Just in time for early holiday shopping, the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area is holding The Great Charity Auction on Saturday, Nov. 14 in the Ben Franklin Center’s Bass Room at Franklin Memorial Hospital.

New this year to this annual event is an Early Bird Social and Auction Preview beginning at 5:30 p.m. Admission to the Early Bird Social is just $5 per person, and includes a complimentary beverage. Music during the social will be performed by the auditioned all-female group from Mt. Blue High School, the Syncopations. Doors open at 6 p.m. for silent auction bidding; the live auction starts at 7 p.m. Auctioneers for the evening are the popular Wendy and Rodney Allen.

Auction items include, but are not limited to: exquisitely made hand-made furniture, area dining packages, hand-hooked rug, massages, artwork by local artisans, cords of wood, handmade quilt, gift baskets, eco-tourism moose hunt package, and much, much more.

The Great Charity Auction is one of the major fundraising events that helps the United Way of the Tri- Valley Area support programs and initiatives that improve people’s lives. Programs range from helping people learn to read through the support of Literacy Volunteers, to helping homeless youth find shelter and stability.

The auction is free and open to the public. There will be a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres as well as music.