About 100 people came to the Sitzmark Ski Club’s benefit auction Nov. 19, where they ate, mingled and bid in both silent and live auctions to benefit the ski area.

TONASKET – The Skitzmark Ski Club slalomed closer to the season with a benefit auction Nov. 17 at the Tonasket Eagles Club, raising more than $6,000.

About 100 people turned out for the silent auction and dinner, and more arrived later to bid during a live auction. Silent auction items ranged from a basket of potatoes, ski items and gift certificates at local spas.

Most of the money raised would go towards insurance and operating costs for the ski area, said Susie Shaddox, the club secretary.

The club owns Sitzmark Ski Area, about 20 miles out of Tonasket on Havillah Road.

“We try to keep the costs low so people in the area can come ski,” Shaddox said.

The live auction had 35 items and was lead by Don Henderson.

The Havillah Baptist Church pledged $1,000 in matching funds through Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a banking organization, said club member Sandy Sutton. Thrivent allows local members to put money into benevolent funds for local organizations. Their addition brings the total above $7,000 for the night, said Sutton.

The fundraiser has historically brought in about $5,000 and the auction is their biggest fundraiser of the year.