Healthcare Foundation's wine tasting event Friday

By Drew Lawson

The Record-Times

Odessa — The Healthcare Foundation’s Wine Tasting, Microbrew Sampling and Auction is back for the 31st time this weekend. Doors open to the ticket-only event at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 5.

The event was moved to Old Town Hall, 104 West First Avenue, due to renovations at the community center. As a result, ticket capacity was dropped from over 200 people to 150, Foundation director Sara Dirks said.

“We still have some tickets available for purchase at The Odessa Drug Store and Leffel, Otis and Warwick,” Dirks said. “But we’re limited on how many there are this year.”

Tickets won’t be available for purchase at the door. Those available at the above locations cost $20.

Mobile bidding on auction items began Monday, May 1 and runs through 9 p.m. Thursday, May 4. The silent auction, Buy It Now Board and Virtual Corks for a Cause are mobile bidding only.

Live auction bidding begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday night.

“People have been very generous,” Dirks said. “They usually expect that (the auction) is coming, and the community really steps up.”

Auction item winners can be picked up in-person for ticketholders and at Old Town Hall from 8:30-10 a.m. Saturday, May 6 for non-attendees.

This year’s proceeds will go toward a step exercise machine for the Memorial Healthcare Clinic’s physical therapy department and a stove with a four-burner cooktop, griddle and oven for the nutrition department. “Raise the Paddle” proceeds go toward a blood pressure machine for the clinic.