Students in the Dickinson Catholic Schools are creating one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted items for guests to bid on during the upcoming Fall Gala.
With a Hawaiian theme as the backdrop, the annual social evening and fundraiser is Sunday, Oct. 13.
"It's one of the biggest fundraisers for the Dickinson Catholic Schools," committee member Brenda Erie said. "It's so much fun and a good way to meet other people in the community."
The gala begins at 4:30 p.m. with a social, followed by dinner and the silent and live auctions. The venue was changed to the Astoria Hotel and Event Center.
Those in attendance are welcome to dress casually or wear clothing in keeping with the theme, she said.
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Lisa Roer, who serves on the auction committee, said the students' involvement is what makes the auctions unique. Each classroom in the two elementary schools makes a silent auction item that often generates some lively bidding by the parents.
"For the kid's stuff, they are keeping that as a surprise," she said.
Her job is to invite area businesses and individuals to donate the live auction items.
Roer listed a Hawaiian time share, vouchers to go anywhere, and an Arizona trip complete with airfare, lodging and a car. Other novel items include tickets to Bison and Sioux hockey games.
"We have many people in the community who are very giving," she said.
As a business friend once told her, "In this community, if people want to get something done, they get it done together."
Roer, who has a second- grader enrolled in school and two coming up, is volunteering for a second year.
"It's all volunteers who donate their time," she said. "It's fun and rewarding and it's for the kids."
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Event coordinator Lisa Kessel said the Trinity High School fine arts department is providing dinner entertainment. The menu includes peppered filet of beef, garlic red potatoes, roasted asparagus, spring mix salad, blueberry and cherry cheesecake.
Kessel, who has four children in the schools, stays involved with the gala because it's for the kids.
"We have a lot of parent volunteers who help, not just a few of us on the committee," she said. "It wouldn't happen without many, many parent volunteers."
Kessel looks forward to the event every year.
"It's really a lot of fun -- it's a sense of community," she said. "We try to make it a fun, entertaining evening."
For tickets call 701-483-6085 or visit www.dickinsoncahtolic
schools.com.
