Wahpeton High School’s leadership team is holding an auction for a cause. The 10-student team is collecting items to place in assembled baskets that will be auctioned live from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16 on Wahpeton Public Schools’ Facebook page. The auction is being held in honor of Braxton Hofman.
“We’re keeping his memory alive, getting all this going and we’re helping the family,” Briar Maudal said. “When a community comes together to help a family, I think it shows strength within a community.”
The Hofman family is aware of the auction for a cause and its purpose of aiding with their expenses and otherwise providing support, the leadership students said. Donations have already come in for the auction and the students are optimistic that more will be coming to benefit the event.
“We started collecting last Friday, getting things together and contacting people,” Holly German said. “We’ve been reaching out and lots of people have already started to donate.”
The class collectively decided on the auction for a cause, they said. They aren’t looking for any specific donated items, just whatever the public is willing to give and believes would be good in an auction basket.
Organizers say they will continue collecting items through Monday, Feb. 14. Auction winners may pick up their baskets Tuesday, Feb. 22 at Wahpeton High School.
“It makes us feel awesome, knowing you can connect all these different people to help a cause. In this case, it’s Braxton’s family. It’s a good feeling even if it’s not under good circumstances,” Maudal said.
Social media posts by the Hofmans say Braxton’s recent medical history included the skin condition toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and pneumonia.
Griffin said she is amazed at how quickly the auction to benefit the Hofman family is coming together. By Friday afternoon, seven items were already auction-ready.
“It’s nice to see people from other towns also coming together to donate. That’s pretty nice,” Jaida Pikarski said.