The annual Lopez Children’s Center auction will be on Aug. 8.

Formerly known as the apron auction, this year will feature a much wider array of hand decorated items including glassware, silk scarves, banners, and baby clothes in addition to original works of art, gift certificates, trips and more.

A preview and silent auction will run from 3 to 4 p.m. and the live auction will be from 4 to 5 p.m. Robert Herrmann will be the auctioneer.

This year’s theme is “And how are the children?” Among the most accomplished and fabled tribes of Africa, no tribe is considered to have warriors more fearsome or more intelligent than the mighty Masai. It is perhaps surprising, then, to learn that the traditional greeting that passes between Masai warriors is “Kasserian Ingera”. It means, “how are the children?”

This traditional greeting among the Masai acknowledges the high value that the Masai always place on their children’s well-being. Even warriors with no children of their own always give the traditional answer, “all the children are well,” meaning that peace and safety prevail, that the priorities of protecting and nurturing the young are in place.

It means that the daily struggles of existence do not preclude proper care for the young.

Lopez Children’s Center is in its seventh year of operation, serving two to six year olds of the families of Lopez and guests as the only licensed early learning childcare facility on the island. This annual auction is the main source of funding supporting LCC’s ongoing operations and scholarships.

It helps to insure all Lopez children have access to our programs—the cooperative preschool and PAL (Play and Learn)—and that, like the Masai, “All the children are well.”

If you would like to donate auction items, you can deliver them to the children’s center weekdays before Aug. 1. For more information, to arrange for a pickup, or to volunteer, call Jane Hobbs at LCC, 468-3896.