Felling Trailers Inc. conducted its eleventh annual online auction of an FT-3 drop deck utility trailer to benefit a non-profit organization: Pockets of Hope. A winning bid of $5,505.00 won the auction that ended at noon on Sept. 15th.
The bid winner was Joe Kostreba of Sauk Centre, Min. Kostreba, a local contractor, has participated in previous Trailer for a Cause auctions and was the bid winner in the 2021 Trailer for a Cause auction that benefitted the Minnesota Fire Fighters Foundation. Like in years prior, Kostreba had been watching the auction as the week went along.
By chance, he had some downtime just before the auction was set to close, and within the last two minutes, he captured the winning bid. A week after the auction closed, arrangements were made for him to come and pick up his new trailer.
"I have been fortunate enough that my construction business has been good and busy, and I am grateful for that. As a small business owner, I want to spread that around, bidding on this trailer is one way to do that," said Kostreba.
The 2023 Trailer for a Cause FT-3 utility trailer was painted custom "Hope Blue" and bared the Pockets of Hope emblem. Several Felling Trailers' suppliers joined to support Pockets of Hope by sponsoring the trailer build, from lighting to tires and paint. The 2023 Trailer for a Cause sponsors are Trans-Texas, PPG, Dexter, Sealco, Peterson, Industrial Wood (Blackwood), Demco, and Pacific Rim. Felling Trailers wants to help generate awareness about Pockets of Hope, the work they do, the children they serve, and the hope and security their backpacks provide to children. The online auction ran for five days, from Monday, Sept. 11th at noon CST through Friday, Sept. 15th at noon CST, ending with Kostreba’s winning bid of $5,505. One hundred percent of the $5,505 went to benefit Pockets of Hope!
One week after Joe had picked up the 2023 Trailer for a Cause FT-3, the Pockets of Hope team made the trip to Sauk Centre to accept the donation check. Founders Lisa Schroers, Briana Sjodin, and Jennifer Bruzek met with Felling Owners Brenda Jennissen and Bonnie Radjenovich to present them with the check for $5,505. "Thanks for an amazing trailer for a cause! We just got this message today from a social worker. The money you raised gives us the opportunity to keep giving out these backpacks!" said Schoers.
The message read, "I met with a few children at the Child Advocacy Center earlier this week. They have been experiencing chronic homelessness and allegations of physical abuse. When the children saw the bags, their eyes got big, and they had the biggest smiles. They were so excited as they took items out of the bag, one at a time. Each item they took out, the more excited their voices became. When one of the boys took out the bag of shampoos and soaps, he held it up high and exclaimed, 'Now I have my own stuff; that's all mine!’'
"Another child ran to me with a blanket and pressed it against my face, saying, 'Feel this; it’s so soft. I’m going to sleep on it tonight.' The children shared, “This is better than Christmas.” Thank you for Pockets of Hope. The bags genuinely make a difference for so many children in our community.”
“Hope gives each person, young and old, the strength to overcome the difficulties and hardships in their life. We are honored to support Pockets of Hope and witness the difference they are making in young people's lives. God's work, their hands, keeping hope afloat," said Brenda Jennissen Felling Trailers CEO and president.
