Alicia Watson, manager of sponsor UPS of Belpre, is shown with her husband Nate Watson and their auction winnings at Friday’s Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley Callihan Charity Auction in Marietta. (Photo Provided)

MARIETTA — Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley held its annual Callihan Charity Auction in Marietta on Feb. 14, at the Shrine building.

A total of 275 people were in attendance at the sold-out event.

Roy Clark Jr. and his band, Isaac’s Fork, kicked off the cowboy-themed evening with an acoustic jam as attendees checked in and started placing bids at the silent auction. Dinner was catered by Theo’s of Cambridge, and featured maple bacon-glazed pork and barbecue chicken, as well as a sweet potato burrito bowl for the vegetarians in the group.

Jeans, boots and various western wear was the dress code of the night.

Games of chance included a Marietta Experience raffle, a 52 Card Draw, and repeated 50/50 drawings. The live auction, called by McLeish Auction services, was emceed by Randy Burnworth and included trips, meat and produce, fresh eggs, tickets to sporting events and concerts, home décor, and more.

Of particular interest were the winners of the ReStore ReDesign contest, with the work of the top three winners brought to the auction. The highest bid-getter won the grand prize, $400 in cash and a ReStore gift card, which went to Karen Francis, with her Teddy Cogsworth secretary desk.

Recent Habitat homebuyer Jeremy Sargent, of Beverly, spoke to the audience about the difference a stable home is making for his family.

Habitat Director Robin Stewart said the organization has started on its 117th home, the Women Build house in Parkersburg, and volunteers are currently registering to work there. Minor repairs for low-income homeowners in the region have also become a focus for the group. Development Director Lisa Collins deemed the event a big success, as she told the group at the end of evening that a net income of $43,000 was raised, a record for the 23rd annual auction.

Habitat’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live, and Habitat for Humanity moved closer to that goal in Wood and Washington counties with this event, Collins said.