Market and silent auction help fund programs at Oilfields School

Oilfields High School’s silent auction goes live on Dec. 5, with about 75 items available for online bidding.

The auction is part of the school’s annual Winter Market that raises funds for a variety of programs at the Black Diamond school.

Working on the silent auction, Grade 12 student Makayla Brown has been visiting local businesses to ask for donations and has collected more items than she expected.

“Businesses around town are amazing,” Brown said. “We have a bunch of different and new businesses that have donated.”

Donations for the auction include a cord of firewood, a pair of rollerskates, gift cards, cordless tools and more. 

“And some businesses from last year have donated again," she said, "and they're great.” 

Brown has also been photographing all the auction items, uploading pictures to the auction website and writing descriptions of each item. 

The auction will go live on Dec. 5 and can be accessed here.

Learning commons facilitator Cindy Watts said compared to last year, double the items have been donated to the silent auction. Donations have come in from beyond the Black Diamond area, including Okotoks and Calgary. 

“Everyone has just been very generous and supportive and exceptionally nice, you know, wanting to help out and giving us items,” Watts said. 

The Calgary Stampeders provided a signed 2018 Grey Cup helmet last year and this year the team donated a signed jersey. 

There is even a handcrafted table valued at $1,800 built by somebody in the community, she said. 

Along with the silent auction, an in-person Winter Market will take place at the school on Thursday, Dec. 15 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Market items made by students will be for sale and there will be entertainment and food, all organized by students in the volunteer and leadership program.

Winter market items will be displayed around the gym, where there will also be music from the school band and karaoke.  

Silent auction bidding during the market will be done by scanning a QR code beside each of the items. 

“All the items will be laid out for everyone to look at,” Brown said. “We take up the whole back wall with all our stuff.” 

Dinner will be available, consisting of pulled pork on a bun with coleslaw, chips and a drink for $10.

The silent auction closes on Dec. 16.