New Wilmington Livestock Auction is holding a public auction today to benefit the New Wilmington Amish Medical Fund. The auction began at 8:30 a.m. and was expected to run until dusk.

Proceeds will be donated to Amish individuals who need hospital care. For religious reasons, the Amish do not purchase insurance.

Amish groups from New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania will be involved and the public is welcome.

Items being auctioned off include quilts, furniture, plants, appliances, knick knacks, farm machinery, tools, and many more items.

The festivities began with a pancake breakfast at 6:30 a.m. with the auction to follow at 8:30 a.m. Throughout the day snacks, homemade ice cream, and barbecued food will be for sale.

"Bring your lawn chairs andcome enjoy the day," said spokesman and chairman Andy Kurtz.

Auctioneers will include Lloyd and Don Braham, Duke Whiting, and, former beneficiary of the fund, Joe L. Byler. Byler, 21, lost both legs in a farming accident and was a patient in Shriners' Children's Hospital in Erie. He benefited from fund-raisers, like the auction for the New Wilmington Amish Medical Fund, to help him and his family pay the medical bills. This year Byler will be giving back to the fund by auctioning off items.

Anyone who cannot attend today's sale but would like to make a donation is asked to send a check payable to "The Amish Hospital Fund" to New Wilmington Livestock Auction, 2006 Mercer New Wilmington Road, New Wilmington 16142.