Holiday Silent Auction Party

For years we hosted a white elephant party and got tremendous giggles out of the hilarious parade of gag gifts. However, our friends started wising up and leaving their junk gifts behind as pranks for the hosts. After moving houses and purging a bunch of rubbish in the process, I decided that we didn't need any more crap lying around the house.

Thus, the silent auction was born. We now have friends bring, and take home, gifts people actually want. One friend uses it as a chance to Christmas shop for his parents, and we now sport a beautiful print in our powder room thanks to our talented friend.

Here's how it works.

Guests bring a gift to donate to the silent auction. Some auction items are handmade like mittens, a framed drawing, or a chessboard. Others gifts are a curated collection of items found around the house that are in great shape and unused; my favorite was a great book, mug sleeve, and other cozy reading items. Brand new items are often brought, too. We once did a taste of Detroit with a six-pack of beer, six-pack of Faygo, Better Made Chips, and a book about Detroit. Another friend brought in a sampling of coffees from a local roaster.

During the first hour and a half, party goers mingle, bid on items they want, and a ten minute warning is given get final bids in. Winning bidders leave a check and go home with the gift to keep or give to someone else.

The next day I use the money to purchase $50 gift cards to a store on the charity's wish list, and I drop them off the next working day. Depending on the needs of the charity you select, guests could also make the checks out directly to the charity. 

At the end of the event, it's a win-win because people go home with things they want and have donated to a worthy cause.

What do you do with your family, friends, and work to limit the amount of needless stuff given at the holidays? What creative ways do you give to others in a season of giving?