Oasis Women’s Shelter is auctioning more than 200 collector and vintage Barbie dolls — all in the original, unopened boxes — over the next few weeks to raise funds for the services offered by the nonprofit.
The Barbies were made available with a single donation from an anonymous donor. Oasis Director Andrea Robinson said the organization can resell the dolls with zero overhead.
“Being able to maintain and keep the profit from this means that additional dollars go to helping survivors of domestic violence. That can be anything from helping to get a vehicle repaired, to helping them to get their apartment or furniture, to gas for getting to and from work or getting kids to and from school or doctor’s appointments. Anything that any of us would need income for is anything that a survivor is going to need,” Robinson said.
Robinson said that funds from federal grants and other money sources are typically earmarked for specific uses by Oasis. However, the money raised from the auction will be unrestricted cash funds.
Sorting through the 204 Barbies took about 5 months, Robinson said. She and volunteers, including Fran Marseille of Marseille & Company Management, found that the dolls amassed $15,000 in market value — with some individually going for $300.
“They’ve all never been opened. Still in original packaging, some with their certificates of authenticity,” Marseille said. “…These are the real thing; these are real Mattel beautiful Barbies.”
Dolls can be purchased outright if someone wishes to bypass the auction. Robinson said all dolls will be given to the purchasers on January 14, when the auction ends.
Seeing some of the dolls already be purchased reminds Robinson of the support they have from the community to be able to continue their mission.
“It’s very heartwarming and endearing that people do care, and a lot of people donate. But when you have an option like this, they can donate and still get something in return that they can cherish and know that the item they purchased helped save someone’s life,” Robinson said.
