Rimbey residents shouldn’t miss the chance to bid on some exciting items and packages at the Rimbey Christian School’s (RCS’s) 2021 online fundraising auction, which is set to begin on Feb. 19 and close on Feb. 25.
Over 100 items have been donated to the auction, including two certificates for 20-minute helicopter flights over Abraham Lake and the Canadian Rockies with Rockies Heli Canada, pup and truck loads of gravel and various gift cards.
The fundraiser is one of the school’s three main annual fundraisers, which helps meet operational costs such as building maintenance, utilities, busing, capital costs, administration and Biblical worldview curriculum materials.
“We also believe that every family who is interested in having their children attend RCS should be able to,” said Laura Grinde, fundraising chairperson for the volunteer-based RCS fundraising committee.
“Fundraising also helps cover the cost for families who may not be able to pay the full tuition amount.”
As an independent school, RCS receives about one-third of the government funding that public schools receive, says Grinde.
In a typical year, the school holds a winter fundraising banquet and the annual spring fundraising auction.
Due to COVID-19, the winter banquet was not able to be held, so the fundraising committee decided to hold the auction earlier this year.
The spring 2020 auction went to an online platform with the help of Montgomery Auction Services Ltd.
“None of us knew much about online auctions at that point but we felt like we needed to do something — we still had operational costs to cover for that last year,” said Grinde.
“Many individuals missed the social aspect of our regular auction, but were pleasantly surprised how well the auction functioned and performed as an online auction.”
The 2021 online auction is again begin hosted by Montgomery Auction Services.
“As this is our second year doing an online auction we have a better idea of how to go about setting it up and helping Montgomery Auction Services as much as we possibly can.”
This year, donated items range from LEGO sets to a pre-built horse shelter with tack shed, tools, dairy and farming supplies and certificates, a dog sled, a portable basketball system and much more.
Donated gift certificates include Cat Work, Vehicle Detailing, Gull Lake Golf Course, Medicine Lodge Ski Club, Nordstrom Dental and Pik-N-Pak Produce Ltd.
To view all the items up for auction, check out montgomeryauctions.com and click on “Rimbey Christian School Auction” and the go to “Bidspotter.”
Registration is required to bid on items and Grinde suggests registering early as it can take a few days to get approved as a bidder.
The soft closing is at 7 p.m. on Feb. 25.