Two Leelanau County women purchased the services of "Five Strong Men" at a cost of $7,400, which will be contributed toward operation of the Goodwill Inn Homeless Shelter in Traverse City.

FIVE STRONG MEN, one of many live auction items sold at the Goodwill
Inn fundraiser Saturday, garnered $7,400. Pictured along with the women
who bought their services are: (from left) Steve Stanton, Elaine Stuckey,
Eric Hallett, Sally Viskochil, Ed Hallett, Doug Treece and Marshall Collins.

A commitment by each man to donate two hours of labor was one of the more popular items of a live auction at the annual fund raiser. Called simply The Party, the event held Saturday at the Waterfront Conference Center in Traverse City raised $50,000 to help run the shelter.

In its fourth year, the fund raiser is organized by Mary Stanton of Suttons Bay and her niece Heidi (Hallett) Treece.

“Each year, we try to do something different,” Stanton said. “This year it was a (mock) wedding between Josie Goodwill and Johnny Inn.”

Ed Hallett of Northport, Eric Hallett of Omena, Eric’s brother-in-law Doug Treece of Traverse City, Mary’s husband, Steve, and Northport teacher Marshall Collins put their hard work on the
auction block.

MARY STANTON (left) and her niece
Heidi Treece organize “The Party” to
raise funds for the Goodwill Inn
Homeless Shelter in Traverse City.

“Last year was the first time this was offered, and it was so popular they agreed to come back,” said Mary Stanton.

The men are equipped to provide a variety of talents.

Eric Hallett is a plumber, while Ed Hallett “is good with a hammer and nails,” said Stanton, whose husband is a computer guru. Treece is owner of a document shredding business. And Collins, coach of the Northport soccer team, could provide instruction to a group of students or work as a private physical trainer, Stanton suggested.

The auction was so successful that the two highest bidders agreed to each pay $4,700 for the services of the men — and the men agreed to work twice as long.

Sally Viskochil of Omena submitted one of the bids for the Five Strong Men.

“Last year, the basement of the Tamarack (Viskochil’s business) was flooded,” Stanton said. “The Five Strong Men worked to clean it out for her.”

Knowing what the crew could accomplished, Viskochil was determined to again obtain their services. But so was Elaine Stuckey of Northport.

The two women engaged in a bidding war — and both ended up winners.

“They were so enthused that the guys agreed to (work) twice,” Stanton said.

The women’s bids totaled $7,400, representing about 14 percent of the $50,000 raised. All proceeds will be put toward daily operating expenses of the shelter, located on Keystone Road in Traverse City.