Buckeyes For Haiti Solace Auction FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions!

What is the Buckeyes For Haiti Solace Auction?  - This auction was created by myself, Janna Johnson, my fellow student, Janell Jones, and our academic adviser Lauren Haas. All three of us attend The Ohio State University College of Social Work and are also employed by the university. In our first Social Work Class taught by Lauren, we read a book called Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. This award winning book was written about the life of Dr. Paul Farmer who founded non-profit Partners In Health. Partners In Health provides, among other things, free health care to the poor in Haiti in its own hospital. You can read more about Partners In Health on their website or in this article. After the massive earthquake in Haiti last month, we were moved to do something to contribute financially to Partners In Health. They are in desperate need of medical supplies as you can imagine. This is how the auction was born. We are also creating a register student organization at The Ohio State University with the same name to continue efforts to support Partners In Health in providing a preferential option for the poor. 

How can I be sure this auction is legitimate?  -  The auction has been written about at both The Ohio State University College of Social Work website and in the Columbus Dispatch newspaper. Please check out those articles. If you are still in need of further verification, please email me for The Ohio State University contact information. 

How do I bid on an auction item?  -  All bids will be taken under the post that they are listed on in the comment section. The auction items can be found under the "Auction Items" banner on the left sidebar of the Feed Your Pig Blog. Click on the item you are interested in bidding on. Carefully read the description of the item to be sure you want it. Please only bid if you are intending to pay for it. Scroll to the bottom of the item post and click on the "comments" link. A new page will open and a text box will be to the right. In the box type your name, your contact information (either email or phone number), and the dollar amount of your bid. Please bid in full dollar increments. Then click on of the options under "choose your identity". If you do not have a Blogger or OpenID account, choose "anonymous" or "name/url" and enter your contact information. Don't forget to scroll to the last comment to check the most current bid!  Good Luck!!

Why are there "code words" on some items?  -  We have been able to obtain more than one item from several donor companies! Items that we have more than one of have been given code words for example: (ecostore stadium), (ecostore buckeye), etc. This was done in order to give the bidder a way to recognize the item they want to bid on in the event that they are outbid and need to bid again! The code words are listed with the name of the item on the left sidebar of the page and also within the item post for each auction item. We also ask that you specify your code word in your payment, either in the comments section of the PayPal system, or in your money order so that we may match you with the right item!

What are the proceeds being used for?  -  All proceeds of this auction, every single dollar, are going directly to Partners In Health. This non-profit group provides medical care free of charge to those in Haiti.


Is my auction bid tax deductible?  -  Yes! If you win the auction, the amount you pay is deductible on your tax return even though you are receiving an item in return. You can even use the amount on your 2009 taxes as a measure was passed allowing any donations for Haiti up through March 31st of 2010 to be deducted on 2009 tax returns. Please see the IRS website for more information. All winners will be sent a letter with tax information for their records!


Do I have to pay shipping costs for my item?  -  Because most of the items are being sent directly from the sponsors, there are NO shipping costs to the bidder! USA and Canada only!


How do I pay for my item?  -  Payments will be accepted via Paypal and Money Orders by mail. A Paypal button will be added to the website near the end of the auction and you will click on it to pay.This will allow you to pay for your item with either your Paypal account or any major credit card. If you are paying for an item that has a code word, please be sure to place the code word in the comments section of the PayPal payment. The money will be put directly into The Ohio State University College of Social Work account and sent directly to Partners In Health. If you are unable to pay via Paypal, you may mail a bank issued money order to The Ohio State University College of Social Work. If you are a local Columbus,OH bidder, you may also pay for your item in person at The Ohio State University.

When can I bid?  -  Bids will be accepted on items started Monday February 15th 2010 and will end at 12:01am on March 1st 2010. All winners will be contacted on March 1st.

How can I donate to the auction?  -  Businesses or individuals are invited to make a tax deductible donation to the auction! Auction items will be accepted through February 22nd 2010 and will be added to the website as they are given. Please email Janna Johnson at Janna@FeedYourPigBlog.com to donate! 



Information on payment and shipping  -  Please pay as promptly as possible if you are the winning bidder. Your item will be shipped within 3 business days of the day your payment is received. You will also be mailed a letter with your tax information. In the event that an item is not paid for by the winning bidder within 1 week of the auction, the item will then be offered to the next lowest bidder. Please contact Janna Johnson as soon as possible if you are unable to pay within that week. Thank You!


Please email Janna Johnson at Janna@FeedYourPigBlog.com with any other questions not mentioned here! You can also leave a comment on this post with your questions. All questions will be answered asap!