Stumped on the perfect gift idea for someone? The Boothbay Region Community Center has the answer.

Together with the Boothbay Region Health and Wellness Foundation, the center is running a “Themed Basket” silent auction to raise money. Baskets are being created and donated by members of the community, including every single board member of the foundation.

The auction will start on Dec. 7 at 10 a.m., and end Dec. 21 at 4 p.m. Bids start at 40 percent of the basket's value, with a minimum bid increase of 10 percent.

For example, the “Curl Up with Christmas Books” basket is valued at $129. The minimum bid is $52 with a bid increment of $15. The “Head to Toe” basket donated by Jane Good, which includes items such as a one-hour massage, has a minimum bid of $96 with a bid increment of $24.

The baskets are varied in theme and value. They include a cat theme, romantic New Year's, gardening, and a “Downton Abbey” tea party. There is even a “dog lovers” basket donated by Patty Seybold and her Labrador-Border collie mix, Benjie.

The idea all started when Jane Good and Margaret Perritt went to an auction at Robert L. Foster's Auction Co. in Newcastle. There they found a huge box of empty baskets, which they purchased and brought back to the center. They weren't sure what they would be using them for but knew they would be useful. Then Bob Crink brought in a donation, Christmas books collected by his late wife. They started putting together baskets full of books, and the idea took off from there.

Several local businesses have made donations, including River's End Farm, Eventide, Boothbay Region Greenhouses and Boothbay Harbor Framers. All the money raised will be split between the center and the foundation.

The center is inviting people to either bring in completed baskets, or to bring in their donated items and decorate the baskets there. For those interested in making a donation, call the Community Center at 633-9876.