PORT TOWNSEND — With the theme of “Keep the Love Alive,” the nonprofit Boiler Room coffee house will host an informal fundraising party with an auction, music by the Blue Crows, housemade chai, locally roasted coffee and cookies this Saturday night.
The event’s a bit big for the Boiler Room itself, so festivities will start at 6 p.m. at the Cotton Building, 607 Water St., about a block away.
The silent auction comes first, accompanied by a slide show of photographs of Boiler Room activities over the past year, such as participation in United Good Neighbors’ Day of Caring, Port Townsend Main Street’s Earth Day and other projects.
A silent auction will start the evening along with vintage jazz, blues and ragtime dished up by the Blue Crows, aka George Rezendes and John Morton.
Then comes a live auction at 7:30 p.m. Items to go up for bid range from gift certificates for local restaurants and locally made art to two South African photo safaris, said Amy Smith, the Boiler Room’s executive director.
The volunteer-run Boiler Room at 711 Water St. serves as a place for people to feed their bodies and minds — through workshops on nonviolent communication, mental health, first aid and other topics — as well as free meals.
Many people fed
With funding from United Good Neighbors, Port Townsend Rotary and other sources, the Boiler Room provided 6,821 meals to Jefferson County residents in the first 10 months of 2014, Smith noted.
That means the Boiler Room is on track to meet a goal of 8,000 meals served this year, she said, adding that the venue has also distributed more than 700 hygiene products through an on-site hygiene pantry.
For more information about volunteering at or otherwise supporting the Boiler Room, visit PTBR.org, email Smith at boilerroomed@gmail.com or phone 360-379-8247.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
