The Yorkton Regional High School is taking up a new fundraiser. The school is about to launch its first charity auction, and is currently looking for items. The fundraiser is held in partnership with Yorkton Auction Centre.
The auction serves as a replacement for the magazine campaign, a long-running fundraiser for the school. The school was forced to drop the magazine campaign after the company that they had worked with went out of business, explained Roby Sharpe, YRHS Student Activity Advisor. He said that the auction came from a suggestion from the Yorkton Auction Centre, and they thought it was a great idea.
“It was really nice that the guys from the Yorkton Auction Centre stepped forward to give it a try. There’s going to be a learning curve, there are going to be some bumps to figure out.”
When it comes to items, Sharpe said that they appreciate whatever people feel like donating.
“No items are too big or too small. If you look at the Yorkton Auction Centre, sometimes there’s a teacup, but sometimes there’s a car, or a trip to Hawaii. So anything you’ve got, that will sell, we will take it.”
Those familiar with the magazine campaign know that students were entered in for a chance to win a car. That’s still the case with the auction, Sharpe explains, but handled in a different way. It’s going to be based on how much money their item raises.
“For every ten dollars their item brings in, their name is going to go in for a car. If they bring in a grain shovel that goes for $10, that’s one time. If they bring a snowblower that their grandpa had and it goes for $200, their name goes in 20 times.”
This is a major fundraiser for the school, and funds from the magazine campaign have gone to a wide range of things that the school has done, from jerseys for sports teams, Anne Portnuff theatre improvements, redoing the sound system in the gym, and innumerable other projects in the school over the years.
“Everything we do comes from student council money,” said Sharpe.
People who donate will also be granted a tax receipt for the item donated.
“I think it’s a win-win-win. The kids will get a chance to get their name in for the car, we’re going to raise a few bucks, and people will be able to get rid of some stuff that they want to get rid of,” said Sharpe.
The school will be accepting items until Jan. 31, and the auction itself will run online from Feb. 4-11. For more information or to donate an item contact Sharpe at 306-786-5569 or 306-521-1231.
