Members of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Webster City gather items for a gardening-themed basket to be sold during the DSAOC Cake Auction. They are, from left, kneeling: Les Ploeger and Lorraine McCoskey. Standing are Curt McCoskey, Patty Gescheilder, Joyce Gelhaus and Stephanie Hill.

Anyone familiar with the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Outreach Center knows that its services are no cakewalk.

Money is what it needs. Not cake.

The online auction, known as the DSAOC Annual Cake Auction, is in its 28th year and is the largest fundraiser for the organization. Originally, the auction was live, with cakes baked by area confectioners, housewives and bakers. When Covid hit in 2020, it shifted to an online auction.

There are three different programs that come under the DSAOC umbrella that benefit from the auction.

Most people are familiar with the shelter located in Fort Dodge which serves 20 counties in central Iowa. On average it helps more than 2,000 people each year, including men, women and children.

In addition to the shelter, DSAOC runs a Homicide and Other Violent Crimes program, which serves 15 counties in central Iowa. That program has offices in both Fort Dodge and Waterloo.

The third component of DSAOC is the retail store in downtown Fort Dodge. The Key on Central is a resale/thrift store located at 1030 Central Avenue. It accepts donations of goods such as clothing, housewares and furniture. Some items are saved for clients; the remaining items are resold and the profits help cover costs of the shelter.

The five-day online auction begins on April 3 at 10 a.m. and continues until April 7 at 7 p.m.

“We really rely on this fundraiser to continue to provide free and confidential services to victims in our community,” said Leah Bair, Program Development director for DSAOC. “Unfortunately, there has been an increase every year.”

Nearly 10 million men and women are victims of domestic violence each year, according to the National Coalition against Domestic Violence.

An average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking, according to the National Domestic Abuse Hotline. One in four women and one of seven men over the age of 18 in the United States have been the victim of severe physical domestic violence according to the Hotline.

“We have seen an uptick after Covid,” Bair said. “There isn’t any rhyme or reason, never a timeline for abuse. We are there when they need us.”

DSAOC generally raises about $30,000 from the auction to support vital services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, trafficking and other violent crimes.

Donations are currently being collected to support the auction, with a deadline of April 1 for auction items. Monetary donations are welcome all year.

Bair, who organizes the auction, anticipates that more than 150 different items will be listed online, including themed baskets, items for children, teens and adults. A few items will be available for purchase as soon as the auction opens, including a limited number of Easter baskets that can be purchased at a fixed price. In addition, items may be added daily.

The auction can be viewed at https://cakeauction2025.givesmart.com.

There is a QR code on the DSAOC website and above. Direct donations can also be made via PayPal at www.dsaoc.com.