thedrifter
12-29-07, 06:43 AM
Marine wives' quilt sells for $2,550
By: DARRYN BENNETT - Staff Writer
Bidding 'heated' in last 12 hours, wife says
RAMONA -- Heidi-Rose McFadden thought she was being overly ambitious when she set out to raise $1,000 for struggling military families by selling a handcrafted quilt on the popular eBay online auction site this month.
But when the 10-day bidding period closed last week, the large red, white and tan cotton quilt, embellished with 20 blue stars, sold for $2,550 to a civilian man living in Virginia.
The proceeds will benefit the 250 families of the U.S Marine Corps Marine Heavy Helicopter Unit 466 commanded by McFadden's husband, a lieutenant colonel. Nicknamed the "Wolfpack," the transport helicopter unit has been deployed to Iraq three times in the last four years, delivering tanks, artillery and medical supplies to the troops.
Jennifer Skinner, another Wolfpack wife who helped organize the fundraiser, said the proceeds won't be distributed to families in financial need until the squadron's next deployment, scheduled for sometime next year. She said, however, that she would like to use some of the proceeds between now and then for at least one group activity ---- such as a barbecue or a day at an amusement park ---- for squadron families.
"We don't want to hand out the money haphazardly," she said this week. "We'll wait and see what the needs are when the men leave again."
McFadden, an avid quilter and Marine wife for 17 years, and two other Ramona women, Betty Adams and Susan Johnson, worked a total of 41 hours to handcraft the quilt.
The auction started on Dec. 11 with an opening bid of $250. Within 24 hours, the bids had doubled and reached $504. Then, after four days on the online auction block, the offers slowed and stalled at around $1,500. But the last 12 hours of the auction proved to be the most profitable, Skinner said.
"It got heated and the bids jumped about $1,000 in those last hours," she said.
John Dowd, the winning bidder, was on an airplane during the last 10 hours of the auction when his daughter-in-law called to tell him that he had been outbid by several hundred dollars, Skinner said.
"At that point, he called her and told her she had full rein and to do whatever it takes to win the quilt," she said. "Our auction would not have been as successful without those late bids."
Dowd received the quilt Wednesday. He wasn't available for comment Thursday.
Because the Wolfpack wives aren't an organization, Soroptimist International of Ramona, a nonprofit organization that supports women through service projects, sponsored the online auction and is managing the tax-deductible donations.
Skinner said the Soroptimists have also received several donations for families from people who were outbid during the auction.
Although there are programs available for military families in need, families still struggle to pay rent and make car payments, and Marine wives are often hesitant to ask for help paying the bills because they don't want to seem selfish or take the attention away from deployed Marines, Skinner said in talking about the inspiration behind the auction.
She said the Wolfpack women may try their hand at fundraising again.
"Maybe we've set a precedent for other (military) wives and families to see that they can raise money to meet their needs," she said. "And maybe we'll make some more things to raise some more money in the future, too. Heidi (McFadden) is very creative."
Contact staff writer Darryn Bennett at (760) 740-5420 or dmbennett@nctimes.com.
How to make a donation: Donations for the Wolfpack families can be made out to SI Ramona, c/o HMH 466 Quilt and sent to Soroptimist, c/o HMH 466 Quilt, P.O. Box 1433, Ramona, CA 92065.
Ellie
By: DARRYN BENNETT - Staff Writer
Bidding 'heated' in last 12 hours, wife says
RAMONA -- Heidi-Rose McFadden thought she was being overly ambitious when she set out to raise $1,000 for struggling military families by selling a handcrafted quilt on the popular eBay online auction site this month.
But when the 10-day bidding period closed last week, the large red, white and tan cotton quilt, embellished with 20 blue stars, sold for $2,550 to a civilian man living in Virginia.
The proceeds will benefit the 250 families of the U.S Marine Corps Marine Heavy Helicopter Unit 466 commanded by McFadden's husband, a lieutenant colonel. Nicknamed the "Wolfpack," the transport helicopter unit has been deployed to Iraq three times in the last four years, delivering tanks, artillery and medical supplies to the troops.
Jennifer Skinner, another Wolfpack wife who helped organize the fundraiser, said the proceeds won't be distributed to families in financial need until the squadron's next deployment, scheduled for sometime next year. She said, however, that she would like to use some of the proceeds between now and then for at least one group activity ---- such as a barbecue or a day at an amusement park ---- for squadron families.
"We don't want to hand out the money haphazardly," she said this week. "We'll wait and see what the needs are when the men leave again."
McFadden, an avid quilter and Marine wife for 17 years, and two other Ramona women, Betty Adams and Susan Johnson, worked a total of 41 hours to handcraft the quilt.
The auction started on Dec. 11 with an opening bid of $250. Within 24 hours, the bids had doubled and reached $504. Then, after four days on the online auction block, the offers slowed and stalled at around $1,500. But the last 12 hours of the auction proved to be the most profitable, Skinner said.
"It got heated and the bids jumped about $1,000 in those last hours," she said.
John Dowd, the winning bidder, was on an airplane during the last 10 hours of the auction when his daughter-in-law called to tell him that he had been outbid by several hundred dollars, Skinner said.
"At that point, he called her and told her she had full rein and to do whatever it takes to win the quilt," she said. "Our auction would not have been as successful without those late bids."
Dowd received the quilt Wednesday. He wasn't available for comment Thursday.
Because the Wolfpack wives aren't an organization, Soroptimist International of Ramona, a nonprofit organization that supports women through service projects, sponsored the online auction and is managing the tax-deductible donations.
Skinner said the Soroptimists have also received several donations for families from people who were outbid during the auction.
Although there are programs available for military families in need, families still struggle to pay rent and make car payments, and Marine wives are often hesitant to ask for help paying the bills because they don't want to seem selfish or take the attention away from deployed Marines, Skinner said in talking about the inspiration behind the auction.
She said the Wolfpack women may try their hand at fundraising again.
"Maybe we've set a precedent for other (military) wives and families to see that they can raise money to meet their needs," she said. "And maybe we'll make some more things to raise some more money in the future, too. Heidi (McFadden) is very creative."
Contact staff writer Darryn Bennett at (760) 740-5420 or dmbennett@nctimes.com.
How to make a donation: Donations for the Wolfpack families can be made out to SI Ramona, c/o HMH 466 Quilt and sent to Soroptimist, c/o HMH 466 Quilt, P.O. Box 1433, Ramona, CA 92065.
Ellie