A packed house raised about $30,000 Sunday at the 11th Annual Christmas Tree Auction, held by the Boys & Girls Club of Oakhurst in Bass Lake's Pines Village.

Twenty-seven decorated trees and wreaths sold for a total of $11,300, to benefit 22 area groups and service organizations, and the boys and girls club grossed $19,500, minus expenses for hosting the event, said Shawna Petrushkin, boys & girls club treasurer.

"I think the tree auction is great and I want to support everything -- saving the Met Cinema too -- all the stuff that's going on," said Tammy VanRossen of Bass Lake as she collected silent auction items she purchased Sunday. "I like supporting local small businesses and the boys & girls club. I just think all of that stuff is so important for the community."

Top live auction bids Sunday included a carved bear by artist Jim Smith, purchased for $2,600 by Dennis and Kathy Creighton; the Sierra Sunrise Rotary Club's tree, purchased for $1,350 by David and Betty Linn; and the Oakhurst Sierra Rotary Club's tree, purchased for $950 by Joseph and Ronda Clarke. The event's silent and online auctions raised almost $6,000, and donations amounted to almost $5,000.

"I am continually amazed at how this community steps up and gives year after year, and event after event," said Rima Runtzel, boys & girls club president. "We had a great group of committee members this year who we couldn't put the event on without."