By Madeleine Lee Photo courtesy of Sophie Droke The St. Mary’s Community Fund’s (SMCF) annual student fundraiser, GIVE 901, begins on Nov. 9 and ends on Nov. 20 and is key to making sure SMCF reaches their fundraising goal of $35,000 to donate grants of $7,000 each to five local charities at the end of the year.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the community fund to make changes in the proceedings of GIVE 901 this year, but many of those changes give students more opportunities to donate virtually. GIVE 901 Chair Sophie Droke (12) said, “Instead of the buffet lunch, our big event is a silent auction during the first week of GIVE 901. Students can bid on and win prizes like ‘principal for the day’ or a personal parking spot. All money that students bid will go towards the fundraiser.” Because some students are still learning virtually, the auction will be online. “The auction is probably our biggest event this year. We are setting up a website so that students can watch it live, which is really exciting,” said Droke. In addition to the online auction, students can donate through the St. Mary’s website by simply going to the “Student Life” tab and then “St. Mary’s Community Fund.” Students can attribute their online donations to their grade’s total, just like they would have in the past by putting cash in their grade’s bucket at school. “Instead of GIVE 901 stickers, we are selling buttons and T-shirts this year. There will be a spirit day during which students can wear their T-shirts if they purchased one,” Droke said. There will be other smaller events like individually packaged snack sales after chapel. While COVID-19 will bring changes and logistical challenges to GIVE 901, it has also brought economic hardship for many. “This year, your donations will benefit the children of the Mid-South more than ever,” said Droke.
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