REBUILDING TOGETHER is raising funds after renovating Vallejo Veterans Memorial Hall.
Courtesy RTSC

❒ Nonprofit, wrapping up refurbishment of Vallejo veterans hall, plans Friday fundraiser

By Donna Beth Weilenman
Staff Reporter

Rebuilding Together Solano County’s third annual “Renovatin’ Rocks the Holidays” dinner and auction will take place Friday in Vallejo this year, Elizabeth Hoffman, executive director, said.

While they dine on food provided by such Benicia restaurants as Venticello’s Ristorante, Sandoval’s Mexican Food, 907 Grill, Robert’s China Garden and Cakes by Laurel, supporters of Rebuilding Together can buy multiple items, either in the silent auction or during live bidding, the purchase of which benefit the nonprofit.

The agency repairs and renovates the homes of low-income residents as well as public buildings — such as the Vallejo Veterans Memorial Hall, site of the dinner and auction.

“We spent four hours moving the items here,” Hoffman said Wednesday.

She said bidders will vie for new carpet, ceramic tiles, lighting fixtures, furniture, ranges, stoves, vanity cabinets and more.

“The list goes on and on and on,” she said.

The live auction has even more items, led by a handmade quilt supplied by the Carquinez Strait Stitchers valued at $1,000 that depicts such Benicia scenes as the Arsenal and some of its historic neighborhoods.

The quilting group is based in Benicia.

Another large item is a mahogany queen sleigh bed and dresser donated by Costco, Hoffman said.

“We have some really amazing things, including several live Christmas trees from Home Depot,” she said. That company has been an active supporter of the nonprofit. “We also have a fully decorated Christmas tree, a Spanish dinner for 12 cooked by Maria Teresa Matthews, a bicycle, contractors’ services, interior design services, cookware and several golf packages.”

The money raised at the auction and dinner will underwrite Rebuilding Together’s 2013 projects, Hoffman said.

Though one is certain to take place in Benicia, the projects won’t be selected until after the fundraiser, so the agency knows how much it can spend, she said.

Tickets to the dinner and auction are $35. A reserved table of eight is $240. Those interested may call Hoffman at 707-580-9360 or email her at ehoffman.rtsc@gmail.com.

Those who can’t attend also may donate by sending checks payable to Rebuilding Together Solano County to the agency at Post Office Box 5996, Vallejo, Calif. 94591, or donate by Paypal through the agency’s website, rebuildingtogethersolanocounty.org.

The dinner and fundraiser start at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Veterans Memorial Hall, 420 Admiral Callaghan Lane, Vallejo, with a no-host bar. The dinner and auctions begin at 6:30 p.m.

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