Big auction lot benefits food pantry

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The Storehouse feeds and clothes thousands of New Mexico's needy every year, but an upcoming fundraiser takes a page from reality TV auctioning a roomful of donated nonfood items to one high bidder.

http://www.thestorehouseabq.org/ gets tons of food donations, but the nonprofit also gets thousands of donations of other items too. Stuff likeugg for sale uk ugg for sale uk ugg for sale uk Gucci bags, $150 golf shoes still in the box, mink coats and collectible Star Wars figurines.

Now this stuff has filled a 1,600-square foot room, but those items didn't feed people until now.

An employee at the Storehouse had a bright idea: Why not take a lesson from the reality show "Storage Wars" and let people bid on the entire room as one lot. Highest bidder takes it all.

This auction is a little different than other storage auctions in New Mexico, says E-sell Auctions co-owner, Shannon Jacques. Her company is donating its services for the auction.

"Under state law you can't look through the items," she said. "Usually, you look in for a couple minutes and you don't break the barrier, but here we want the public to come in for the preview times and see what's in here because there is amazing stuff."

Bridgit Torbett, who has an antique store, sells on eBay and also holds garage sales, said she thinks the lot should go for about $5,000. If someone takes a bit of time reselling the items, they could make as much as $15,000, she added.

This buy would keep her busy for a long time.

"I try not to get giddy because I do a lot of storage auctions, but to be able to see it and touch it," Torbett said. "I'm trying to stick with a budget and not go crazy like a lot of people."

So how much food could this room full of stuffugg for sale uk ugg for sale uk ugg for sale uk buy? The Storehouse says each meal runs around 18 cents. If the lot is sold for $5,000, that comes out to 27,778 meals.

The Storehouse storage unit will be auctioned off by E-sell Auctions on Wednesday, Nov. 16th at 6 p.m., at 2820-A Richmond DR. NE. The final preview is Friday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Storehouse on Broadway Boulevard SE a ugg for sale uk ugg for sale uk ugg for sale ukblock south of Central Avenue and from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday at the auction site.