Norton's to Hold Live Cake Auction

When it comes to creativity, owner Deborah Leydig is never short on ideas. She was brainstorming a new way to fundraise for Barrington's Relay For Life when her latest idea popped into her head.

“I think it’s really hard with Relay for Life, trying to think of things to do. I was watching an old movie where the ladies would make a lunch and somebody would buy their lunch, and I thought, oh my we should do this with cakes,” she said.

That’s how Norton’s U.S.A.’s first annual Live Auction Cake Sale was born. The idea is that customers and community members will bake a cake, bring it to the store, and it will be auctioned off to benefit Relay for Life. Leydig said it should be lots of fun, all for a good cause.

“Everyone is going to have to give a little story about their cake, a special ingredient or how they got their recipe,” she said.

The event, which takes place this Saturday, May 12 at 3 p.m., will be held at Norton’s, 400 Lagechulte Street. If weather permits, the auction will be held outdoors. If rain takes over, the center aisle of the store will be cleared out and the auction will be held inside.

Anyone is welcome to drop-off a homemade cake by noon on Saturday to be part of the auction. The public is invited to bid on the cakes at 3 p.m. Even if you can’t make it in person, you can call the store to make a bid on your behalf.

“Just give us your price limit and what flavor you want. So when we see a chocolate cake, we can bid on it for you,” Leydig said.

The American Cancer Society is more than just a charity to Leydig. She lost her brother to cancer a year and a half ago, and her father just passed away from the disease two weeks ago.

“It does touch us all. I think it’s just fabulous how (Relay for Life) brings the community together,” she said.

The purple Wicksrom Relay for Life Jeep will be at Norton’s U.S.A. on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To bring a cake for auction, have it at the store no later than noon. Bidding starts at 3 p.m. For more information, call (847) 382-8872.