Paying it forward after a fire at its Woodstock building on May 20, the Valley Educational Center for the Creative Arts (VECCA) hosted a 50/50 Silent Art Auction as a way to show gratitude to the Woodstock Fire Department for saving the gallery.

“We wanted to put our money where our mouth was and say, monetarily, say ‘Thank you’ to another nonprofit,” said VECCA board president Jessica Dellinger. “You get out of things what you put into it.”

The fundraiser, which Dellinger described as a "rebirth," brought in $1,444, which was divided evenly between VECCA and the fire department. A check was presented to Fire Chief Zach Hottel on Sept. 13.

“It was an ordeal, but it was an ordeal made doable because of our friendships, connections and our community,” Dellinger said.

“VECCA's support of

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