FAQ

* Who have some of the past auction donors been?
Past auction celebrity donors include: The Goo Goo Dolls, The Yardbirds, Weezer, Andy Stochansky, Rick Springfield, Ian Gillan, Augustana, Zoe Scott, Ani DiFranco, B52's, Bob Mussell, Amungus, Randy Howell, Butch Walker, The Juliet Dagger, Agent Me, Dot Dot Dot, along with many generous businesses, corporations, and individuals, including Live Nation, VH1, and Bob and Kathy Takac.

* Is my donation tax deductable, and how can I prove I made a donation?
Compass House is a not-for-profit agency that received its 501(c)(3) status in 1974. As a charitable organization as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, your contribution is tax deductible to the full extent allowable by law.

All donations made through the Absolute Goo auction go directly to Compass House and each donor will receive a letter directly from Compass House to document your contribution.

* How do I donate an item for the auction?
If you have an item you're considering donating to the auction the first step is to drop us an email to: rockthehouse@absolutegoo.com. From there we'll walk you through the steps for your tax deductible donation.

* What types of items can be donated?
Primarily we encourage music-related donations, because we are a band support site. In years past artists have donated everything from autographed CDs, posters, guitars, T-shirts, to rare memorabilia and even a personal phone call to lucky bidders from John Rzeznik, Robby Takac, and Mike Malinin of the Goo Goo Dolls. Fans and other individuals have donated from their hearts for the auction, giving CDs, hand crafted jewelry and so much more. No donation is too small (a business card was once a great draw) and none too large (a local Buffalo business donated a large wall display that had to be trucked to the winner).

* How do I bid during the auction?
The auction takes place on EBay and all Ebay requirements for bidding apply.

*What is Compass House?
Originally founded in 1972, Compass House remains the only organization in Erie County which provides shelter and counseling for boys and girls who find themselves on the street.

This year Compass House is celebrating 39 years of providing shelter and services to the runaway and homeless youth who find themselves on the streets of Erie County. These kids come to them from wealthy suburban neighborhoods as well as from some of the more troubled streets of the inner city. They see everything from a young person struggling with what they perceive as overprotective parents to children living in poverty, neglect and abuse. Their goals remain constant - to provide each child with a safe place to sleep, caring people to listen to their concerns, and skilled counselors willing to work with each youth and his or her family to identify, address and resolve serious family issues and move on safely.

To accomplish their goals Compass House operates three programs:

1. The Emergency Shelter (for runaway and homeless youth 12 - 17 years of age) provides a 24-hour helpline (716-886-0935) where a young person or concerned community member can receive crisis counseling and immediate access to shelter and services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

At the shelter, each young person is provided with a safe place to sleep; food; clothing; crisis counseling, individual, group and family counseling; referral and linkage to other community services; and aftercare.

In 2006, Compass House became part of the national Safe Place Program so that a young person can go to a number of community businesses and organizations 24 hours a night throughout Erie County and say they need help. Each youth will be immediately connected to a counselor at the shelter and if transportation is needed, a community Safe Place Volunteer will come to the site they are at and transport them to the shelter for services. (In 2006, 319 youth were provided with 2,810 nights of shelter and services. The CH helpline responded to 716 calls for assistance.)

2. The CH Resource Center program (for homeless youth, or youth at-risk of homelessness 16 - 20 years of age) provides non-residential case management services that include access to food; clothing; assistance with finding stable living situations; advocacy; referral and linkage to community services and programs (from counseling to educational and employment services); individual and group independent living skills instruction; and afternoon educational and recreational programs four evenings a week. (In 2006, The Compass House Resource Center provided 202 homeless youth with the above services).

3. Street Outreach Program - Federal Program that provides a Compass House Street Outreach Team on the streets in Buffalo and Erie County three nights a week to assist any homeless kids access to needed services and to provide them with food vouchers, clothing, blankets, hygiene supplies, etc. that they might need to get by. The hope is to build trusting relationships with youth to assist them in getting help and to find stable housing and services.

* How will Compass House use these funds?
All of the funds will be utilized to provide the above listed services for young people in crisis.

Compass House services are all voluntary  and free (no one can force a youth to be at Compass House, they come because they want and need help and are free to leave services whenever they wish). They do not charge any young person, or his or her family for any services they receive. Because of this they are very reliant on (stagnant or reduced) government funding, foundation grants specifically for special programs, and the generosity of the community.