Seacoast artists plan art auction to aid veterans with rising heating bills

Special to Seacoastonline
·3 min read

KINGSTON — With home heating costs on the rise, dozens of local artists have teamed up to auction off some of their original artwork to raise money to help veterans in need this winter.

A “Fuel for Vets” benefit auction will be held on Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Kingston Community Library at 2 Library Lane. A brunch is planned from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. followed by a live art auction from 12 to 2 p.m.

Nearly 40 pieces of artwork donated by artists from the Seacoast and beyond will be up for grabs.

“There are going to be people making choices between food and heat this winter, and it certainly shouldn’t be veterans,” said Hampstead artist Dannielle Genovese, who came up with the idea for the auction while going through some of her own artwork that was taking up space in her home.

Hampstead artist Michelle Baker hangs artwork to be auctioned off to benefit veterans in need of assistance with heating bills this winter at the Kingston Community Library.
Hampstead artist Michelle Baker hangs artwork to be auctioned off to benefit veterans in need of assistance with heating bills this winter at the Kingston Community Library.

Genovese wanted to find a way to donate her pieces and have them auctioned off.

She reached out to other local artists and found a lot of support for the idea, including from members of the Seacoast Artist Association.

The Kingston Community Library quickly joined the effort and agreed to help organize and host the event.

Deciding on a beneficiary for the auction was an easy one for Genovese. She recalled how during a recent visit to the Manchester VA Medical Center with her husband, who served in the National Guard and receives services, she learned of the graduation date for her grandson, who had joined the Navy.

“At that time the headlines came out about what heating fuel was going to cost and I was horrified and I thought, ‘Who can afford that with a fixed income?’ I think the need will be tremendous,” said Genovese, who owns Wolf Spirit Art Studios in Hampstead and began pursuing her love of art after retiring from teaching at Sanborn Regional High School in Kingston in 2001.

Hampstead artist Dannielle Genovese stands with one of her pieces of artwork that will be sold at the “Fuel for Vets” auction at the Kingston Community Library on Oct. 16.
Hampstead artist Dannielle Genovese stands with one of her pieces of artwork that will be sold at the “Fuel for Vets” auction at the Kingston Community Library on Oct. 16.

Michelle Baker, a fellow artist from Hampstead who teaches online art classes to middle and high school age students, saw the same headlines and jumped at the chance to donate her own artwork and lend a hand with the auction. Like Genovese, she also has military connections as her father was a veteran and her son is in the JROTC program and considering a military path.

Kingston Community Library Director Melissa Mannon and her staff have worked closely with Genovese to make the brunch and auction a reality.

“Our name is the Kingston Community Library so we’re really happy to be doing something like this for the community. The money is going to local people in need,” Mannon said. “This is the role a library can play in the community. We value books, but we also value art and creativity.”

Swim With A Mission, Inc., a New Hampshire-based 501c3 nonprofit that raises money for worthy veteran service organizations, will work with event organizers to ensure that net proceeds raised during the brunch and auction benefit veterans needing help with their heating bills this winter.

The event is sponsored by Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., Partners Bank, Hannaford in Hampstead, the Kingston Volunteer Fire Association, American Legion Post 90 in Raymond, Kingston VFW Post 1088, Kingston Veterans Club, Down to Earth Garden Shop, and The Green Griffin.

The artwork is currently on display inside the library for those interested in getting an early look at the pieces. Anyone who is unable to attend the auction but is interested in a piece can place a bid between now and the day of the event as it is a combination silent and live auction.

Artwork from local artists will be auctioned off at a benefit auction at the Kingston Community Library on Oct. 16.
Artwork from local artists will be auctioned off at a benefit auction at the Kingston Community Library on Oct. 16.

Tickets for the brunch and auction are available for a $50 suggested donation.

Payment in the form of cash or check is preferred for artwork and tickets sold on the day of the auction.

For more information on the auction, to purchase tickets, make a donation or to view images of the artwork to be auctioned, visit the following link on the library’s website www.kingston-library.org/fuel.

Anyone with additional questions should contact the Kingston Community Library at 603-642-3521.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Seacoast artists plan art auction to aid veterans with rising heating bills