This year’s benefit auction will feature both Silent and Live Auction formats. Over the past 10 years, thanks to your generosity, OWS has contributed $32,000 to woodturning clubs across the Pacific Northwest. Our 2025 Symposium goal is to raise $4,000 for woodturning programs in local schools and $15,000 to benefit Pacific Northwest turning clubs.

This year we have an opportunity to support woodturner Nick Agar, who is facing medical bills. Items donated by Nick’s friends will be auctioned to assist him, including contributions from Arthur Aveling (King Arthur Tools), Thomas Scurto-Davis, Glenn and Cornelia Lucas, Stuart Batty, Ron Campbell, AZ Carbide, Carol Hall, Michael Kehs, Lyle Jamieson, Wes Hendrix (Elite CNC), and Brent English (Robust).

The auction will feature autographed Symposium t-shirts, demonstrator pieces, tools, DVDs, design software, fine wood rounds, and art-turned pieces.

Every gathering at the Oregon Woodturning Symposium provides an opportunity to give back to the local community. This year, attendees are encouraged to donate handcrafted wood-turned bowls to benefit Linn Benton Food Share (LBFS). These bowls will be sold during the Symposium for a flat price of $25 each.  Every dollar raised goes directly to LBFS to support its mission of combating hunger in the two-county area.

Linn Benton Food Share distributes over 3 million pounds of food annually through a network of 68 local nonprofit partners, including food pantries, meal sites, gleaning groups, and supplemental agencies. As a Partner Distribution Organization of the Oregon Food Bank and an affiliate of the Feeding America Network, LBFS plays a vital role in ensuring food security for thousands of individuals and families.