Volunteers of Warwick Schools (VOWS) will hold its popular “chopstick” auction on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Buttonwoods Community Center, located at 3027 West Shore Road in Warwick. The auction begins at noon, but participants are welcome to arrive a few minutes early to take a look at what’s available. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.

Auction items range in value from $10 to $150 and include restaurant and retail gift certificates, gift baskets and items for men, women and children.

The auction is known for its great prizes and is a fun way to spend an autumn afternoon. Participants can purchase a golden numbered chopstick for $20 and be entered in every drawing. You need not be present to win. Once you have purchased your golden numbered chopstick, you may also purchase up to five “In Until You Win” chopsticks for $5 each at the door the day of the event. The $5 chopsticks will be entered in every drawing until a prize is won.

For those who haven’t played before, golden chopsticks and In Until You Win chopsticks come in numbered pairs. The pairs are split, with one going to the purchaser and the other placed in a tumbling drum. The drum is tumbled as each prize item comes up for “auction” and a chopstick is drawn. The person holding the matching numbered chopstick is the winner of that prize. It’s an easy game, with lots of prizes. Admission is included in the price of the mandatory golden chopsticks. Snacks, coffee and soda will be available for purchase.

The corporate sponsor of this year’s Chopstick Auction is Coastway Community Bank. All proceeds from this event support the work of Volunteers of Warwick Schools. VOWS has provided volunteers to help meet the educational needs of Warwick school children for the past 38 years. As the Warwick Public Schools’ centrally directed, district-wide school volunteer management system, VOWS recruits, trains and coordinates volunteers for teacher-requested, teacher-supervised educational activities that offer assistance to students within the schools. VOWS uses the services of concerned parents, friends and community members who are interested in making an investment in their children and schools by sharing their time and talent in educationally supportive tasks.

Golden numbered chopsticks can be purchased in advance or at the door. For advance purchases, contact the VOWS coordinator at your local Warwick elementary school or contact the VOWS office at 734-3230 or vows1@warwickschools.

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