Donations have begun! The auction is our biggest fundraiser of the year. Not only is the auction an essential fundraiser, it is an important way to build community. The social events provided give Albany UU members a chance to socialize and get to know each other better. See the testimonials by past participants. There are suggestions and directions for donations below. Please make a a donation and make this the most successful online auction yet!

Important Dates

Submitting Your Donation

You can submit your donation on-line using the form below. The donation form allows you to submit an image with your description. Events may be scheduled between Saturday, May 23, 2026 and Sunday, May 2, 2027. You will find suggestions for donating below.

Here is good news for anyone planning to donate the same item they donated last year: You only need to designate the title of the item and, for events, the new (2026 or 2027) date and time on the form.  We will copy the remaining information from last year’s auction item. You don’t need the exact title of last year’s item. A descriptive title will allow us to find the correct item.

If you want to look at your item on last year’s auction site, just go to the site, click on View All Items, find your item and review.

Submit your donation with this form. If you are donating more than one item, use a separate form for each one.

During the Auction Preview period (April 30 to May 2), you can review your item(s) on the auction site for accuracy. You can also decide what you want to buy. Remember that items sell fast when buying begins.

Suggestions for Donating

Here are some suggestions, ones that have been popular in the past and some new ideas. Let your imagination be your guide. If your time or energy are limited, make it easy by finding a partner or incorporating store-bought options.

Social Events

• Dinners featuring food from another country or whatever your specialty is.
• Simpler meals featuring pancakes, tacos, soup, or pizza.
• Events for parents and children, such as swim parties, hikes, games, crafts, or movies.
• Garden tours accompanied by lunch or wine and cheese.
• Get togethers for conversation, games, playacting, a musical activity, or a sound bath and yoga accompanied by lunch or dessert.

Food

• Home-made treats such as manicotti, baguettes, jams, or baked goodies.
• Gift certificates for meals or other food items.

Other Popular Donations

• Hikes or bike rides with a picnic in our beautiful surroundings.
• A stay at your home in a resort or city setting.
• Tickets to a play or movie.

If you have a painting, antique, or other object that you would like to donate, please consider saving it for Silver Bay or the Bazaar.  Objects that need to be seen to be appreciated sell better at those in-person events.

Creative ideas are always welcome. Your idea might be exactly what someone else in our community is hoping for–a chance to meet new people, try something fun, or simply spend time together.

Testimonials

Read what other UUs have said about their great experiences at auction events.