Business owner’s donation to charity auction is labor of love

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CHARLOTTE — A local nonprofit that helps foster children is about to celebrate a milestone.

Least of These Carolinas will mark its 10th anniversary with a gala next week. Local businesses are also donating items for an auction to raise money for the organization.

Channel 9′s Evan Donovan found a special donation that comes with a personal touch.

Nick Smith, the owner of Queen City Scooters, offered to donate a scooter and build a custom electric bike for the auction.

“What these kids go through is life-altering and it can be very scary and traumatic,” Smith said.

Smith speaks from experience.

“I was between the age of 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 … my birth mom went back and forth with the state, so I was constantly changing custody,” he explained.

Smith was eventually adopted. He says having a family changed his life.

“I remember the first time my parents walked into the house. I don’t remember what I thought, but I remember seeing them and I just know that every day forward I’ve been blessed to have them as my parents,” he said.

Smith appreciates the work Least of These Carolinas is doing and hopes others will consider helping the organization.

The Least of These Carolinas anniversary gala will be held on March 2. Tickets are still available.

For more information or to bid on items in the auction, go to lotcarolinas.com. You can also click here for the live auction.

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