Thank You, Royal Oak! Euchre Night and Silent Auction Recap

What a night! On Friday, May 15, 2026, friends, church members, and neighbors filled the second floor of 5th Avenue Grill in downtown Royal Oak for our Silent Auction and Euchre Party. Every dollar went to support Outreach on 7th.

Guests enjoyed a traditional Midwest-style Euchre tournament (card playing was optional!), food and non-alcoholic drinks included with each $50 donation, a cash bar, and plenty of good conversation. The games were lots of fun, with friendly competition and plenty of laughter around every table.

The evening opened with a welcome from Pastor Jeff Nelson, and between matches, guests heard brief remarks from OO7 leaders: Chair Scott McKinnon, Board Member Tim Ryckman, and OO7 Program Coordinator Robert Bryson. It was a fitting moment to pause and remember the neighbors at the heart of the evening.

Scott summed it up afterward: the evening “was a success… well attended,” with “great participation from our community with respect to donations for the auction and cash gifts.”

A silent auction full of generosity

The true highlight of the evening was the generosity behind the silent auction. Local businesses and neighbors donated a remarkable number and variety of items, and each one was a gift to our neighbors in need:

• Local pro sports memorabilia and experiences, including Detroit Tigers box seats and an autographed Amon-Ra St. Brown jersey
• Custom gift baskets, thoughtfully put together by donors
• Game training and starter kits, for favorites like pickleball and mahjong
• Personal services and events, from a professional pet photography sitting to a Lake St. Clair sailing cruise

Items were also posted online, so friends who couldn’t attend could still join in the bidding.

To every business and neighbor who donated an item: thank you. Your gifts turned a fun evening into real support for the people we serve.

What it means

Every bid and every gift helps us keep doing what we’ve done in Royal Oak for more than 30 years: serving weekday lunches, stocking the Essentials Pantry, and offering clothing, showers, and a welcoming place to neighbors who need them.

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who played, bid, donated items, and gave gifts, and to the volunteers who made the evening run smoothly. Special thanks to Board Chair Scott McKinnon and his family for planning the evening, and to Gabriela Betanzos for capturing it in photos. Thanks also to 5th Avenue Grill for hosting us.

As we said on Facebook after the party: “An incredible evening of fellowship, laughter, generosity, and support for our neighbors in need.” Photos from the evening are on our Facebook page.

We’re already looking forward to the next one. Stay tuned!