Q: When and where is the auction?
A: Saturday, February 28 from 6 - 9 p.m. at NRECA (826 N Taylor St., Arlington, VA 22203). NRECA is the last building on the right corner of Taylor Street and Wilson Boulevard. The main entrance is on Taylor Street.
Q: Should I drive and if so, where should I park?
A: You may park in the garage under the building (parking will be validated at the front desk), but many people walk or take alternative transportation. Parking is located underneath the building (850 N Taylor St). There is a lot of construction at NRECA so we advise you do not park in the garage there.
Q: Will there be food and drinks?
A: Yes! We will have heavy appetizers and desserts. There will also be an open bar with an assortment of beer, wine, hard seltzers, non-alcoholic beverages, as well as a signature cocktail!
Q: Do I need a date?
A: No! Come by yourself or with a friend. People walk around and talk with parents they don’t yet know. Friends and neighbors are welcome. If you know parents of a rising kindergartener, invite them to join you, so they can get to know the Long Branch community a bit!
Q: How does the auction work?
A: There will be two types of auctions. Silent (online) and in-person. You can bid on silent items from your phone during the event. Parties, teacher experiences and some selected items will only be available for bidding in-person (on paper bidding sheets) during the event. So be sure to buy a ticket so you can bid on those items!
Q: How can I prepare for the auction?
A: Many of the silent auction bidding will be done online, which means even during the gala on Saturday night, you’ll be bidding straight from your phone. To ensure you are successful in your bidding at the event, we recommend that you make sure your phone is fully charged and sign into the NRECA wi-fi when you arrive to ensure great connectivity. Our online bidding system will notify you if you’ve been “outbid” on an item you’re interested in, so you can still enjoy the event while the silent auction is underway.
We’ll also have paper bidding sheets for teacher/staff experiences and parties (and a few other items) for you to bid on in-person. You will write your bid number on the sheet, but check back often as you may need to increase your bid to win a spot.
Q: What if I can’t make it to the event? Can I still bid?
A: YES! Everything (other than teacher/staff experiences and parties ) are available to bid on virtually—you don’t have to attend the auction to bid. Because of this, feel free to share the link with friends and family who may be interested in some of our items.
Q: Do I need to spend a lot of money at the auction?
A: No! There are fun things to bid on, but you can have a great time even if you don’t bid! If you don't want to purchase a bid number, you can just show up at the event and check-in there to receive a bid number.
Q: Is this fun and worth my time?
A: Yes! Parents regularly describe the auction as one of their favorite events of the year. They get to have a fun evening out without the kids and meet new Long Branch friends!
Q: What is the price point for the auction items?
A: There is something for everyone! Some of the auction items start as low as $10 for the opening bid. You are guaranteed to find something of interest!
Q: Can I just donate money if I don't win anything?
A: Of course! You can give online during the auction or afterwards.
Q: What do I wear?
A: This is a casual event. The theme is 1920s/Speakeasy so feel free to lean into the theme as much as you want.
Q: Can I bring the kids?
A: No, this is an adults-only event. But, to help with costs, consider going in with another family for a sitter.
Q: How do I pay for the auction items?
A: When purchasing your ticket online, you will need to 'save' your credit card for use at the event. If you did not check that box, upon check in at the auction, we will swipe your card so you can bid on items.
If you decide you want to change the credit card on file, you can make that change at the auction. We are only accepting credit card payments (no cash or checks).
Q: Do I need to stay the entire time to win my items?
As long as you have the highest bid at the time that section closes, we will be able to charge your credit card on file and arrange for your winnings to get to you if you have to leave before the event officially ends. All electronic items will be emailed after the event and arrangements will be made for any physical items to get to the winner.
Q: My company wants to sponsor the auction. How do I do that?
A: Companies that donate $500 or more can become auction sponsors. As a sponsor, your logo will be on the website, social media, emails to our over 400 student's families, promotional materials and signage at the event. Email longbranchauction@gmail for more details.
Q: Where does the money raised go?
A: The money raised goes directly back to supporting children at Long Branch through PTA initiatives like financial support for field trips, teacher and staff appreciation activities, additional classroom supplies, community building events like STEM night, arts and crafts night and spring fling, and faculty grants.
