The Whitehorse community has come forward in an amazing way to help raise money for the Baker family, whose home was destroyed in an act of vandalism, says Harreson Tanner, a member of Yukon Artists at Work.

A silent auction will be held at the group's gallery on Sunday, Dec. 9 to raise money for the Bakers, Tanner said in an interview this morning.

Last Friday afternoon, a neighbour notified Paul and Jeanine Baker that their two-storey home, truck and camper had been destroyed in the Mt. Sima subdivision area.

The incident appears to have happened sometime between last Thursday and Friday afternoon, when the RCMP were alerted.

Someone stole a nearby bulldozer from the next property over and used it to raze the partially-finished building, which was about to have a roof put on it, said Tanner.

Police and Crime Stoppers put the total damage at more than $30,000.

Aside from original artwork donated from local artists, the items to be auctioned off include a dog sled, a 20-pound turkey, and gift certificates from local businesses. Zola DorÈ, a cafÈ owner, is donating wine, beer and food, said Tanner.

The event will include 50-50 draws and there will be two containers in the gallery: one for people who wish to donate cash or cheques, and another for people who wish to volunteer to help rebuild.

'We're raising money in a large variety of ways,' said Tanner. 'It's really taken off. (The Bakers) are super-nice people and they certainly didn't deserve what happened.'

Jeanine Baker is a founding member of the Yukon Artists at Work, said Tanner. 'She is one of our own, and we want to take care of her.

The fundraiser will take place just days after the silent auction Yukon Artists at Work will host Dec. 1 to raise money for the Blood Ties Four Directions Centre in honour of World AIDS Day.

'Artists are very generous people,' said Tanner.

Another cause the artists' group took part in recently was raising money to help support a young family after the father suffered a series of heart attacks.

'The community was great and came forward just like it's doing now,' said Tanner.

Social responsibility was one of the founding principles of the artists' group, he added.

For now, the Bakers are living in their home at Crag Lake, south of Whitehorse, and must make the one-hour commute to the capital each day.