December 11, 2024
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Operation St. Nick’s radio auction kicks off Sunday morning

By Michael Urbanec
A 1960 Walborg 1/4 midget racecar fully restored by the Morris Cruise Night Committee.

A 1960 Walborg 1/4 midget racecar fully restored by the Morris Cruise Night Committee. (Michael Urbanec)

Operation St. Nick’s annual auction returns Sunday morning to provide aid to families in need during the holiday season.

Founder Joe Schmitz and his successor, Guy Christensen, said this year’s program helped 57 families, including 152 children, spending $38,661 in gifts, $16,500 in food and $55,000 in utilities amounting to $110,161.

There are many pieces of sports memorabilia up for auction, including an autographed Frank Thomas jersey, an autographed Andre Dawson jersey, an autographed Dick Butkus helmet, and more.

There are many pieces of sports memorabilia up for auction, including an autographed Frank Thomas jersey, an autographed Andre Dawson jersey, an autographed Dick Butkus helmet, and more. (Michael Urbanec)

The auction can be heard from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, on WCSJ 103.1, and items include four tickets to see AC/DC on Saturday, May 24, at Soldier Field in Chicago; a fully restored 1960 Walborg 1/4 midget race car courtesy of Morris Cruise Night; a Dick Butkus autographed football helmet; tickets to see the Chicago Bears versus the Seattle Seahawks with transportation on Thursday, Dec. 26, and more.

To view the full list of items, visit https://tinyurl.com/49n3h7s9.

Operation St. Nick has been operating for 42 years and has since raised over $2.7 million to help families in need around the holidays.

There are also many paintings and crafted items as part of the auction, including a painting of St. Nick.

There are also many paintings and crafted items as part of the auction, including a painting of St. Nick. (Michael Urbanec)

Included in the auction are an autograph package from the movie "Grease," which came out in 1978. It includes a poster signed by John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, and personally signed "Grease" director's notebook.

Included in the auction are an autograph package from the movie "Grease," which came out in 1978. It includes a poster signed by John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, and personally signed "Grease" director's notebook. (Michael Urbanec)

Morris
Michael Urbanec

Michael Urbanec

Michael Urbanec covers Grundy County and the City of Morris, Coal City, Minooka, and more for the Morris Herald-News