Students, parents, teachers and members of the Innisfail community rallied once again to show their support for the people of Fort McMurray.
A community auction fundraiser was held in the gymnasium at Innisfail Middle School June 16 and raised a total of $3,000.
Grade 7 students in Whitney Oakley's leadership class organized, prepared and presented a live auction and barbecue to help raise money for struggling Fort McMurray residents who have returned to the community after being evacuated last month due to the wildfire.
“The kids were excited to get involved, and one of my students (Carter Wright) suggested we do an auction,” said Oakley. “We've had an overwhelming response from the community.”
A variety of items from local businesses, area farms, clubs and organizations, as well as those from parents, students and fellow teachers were on the auction block for Fort McMurray. The community auction included everything from baked goods to packages from businesses, as well as clubs, toys, collectibles, paintings, gift baskets and plants.
“Kids donated things that they made and parents donated purchased items,” said Oakley, noting the specific organization students wanted to support. “We're sending the proceeds from the auction and the barbecue to the food bank in Fort McMurray,” she added. “We thought that was a way that would help families there.”
The event saw more than 50 people come out to show their support.
Local auctioneer Dory Gerrard presented the live auction, while students helped out with the barbecue and other aspects of the fundraising event.
“Some grade 5 and 6 students set up a bake sale inside (the gym) with breads and cookies and my leadership group is running a gourmet hotdog bar,” said Oakley, noting the learning opportunity for her students.
“Our big thing (in class) is service learning and how you can impact your community in a big way. We try and involve as many students in that as possible,” said Oakley, noting the event planning and leadership skills that students learned in the process.
“We put an idea out to the rest of the school and had a huge response from kids in all grades who just wanted to do something to help out,” Oakley concluded.
Whitney Oakley, teacher at Innisfail Middle School
"We're sending the proceeds from the auction and the barbecue to the food bank in Fort McMurray. We thought that was a way that would help families there."
