NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Gabriel Abbott Memorial School's 13th annual Oh Be Thankful auction expanded this holiday season to allow any desserts rather than just its famed pies.
Bakers were put to the test on Tuesday night as their confections were rated by select judges and the community at large at the American Legion.
"It used to be just a pie contest for 12 years but now it is a dessert contest," Principal Heidi Dugal said of the Florida school's tradition. "We thought we would try something a little different."
Dugal said each contestant bakes two desserts: one for the judges to try and one to be auctioned off. She said attendees also get to try a small sample. After the judges rate the desserts, the auction begins. This year the bidding ranged from $5 to more than $50.
The price of entry is a nonperishable food item because, at its core, the contest is a student-run fundraiser.
"Last year, we were able to get 860 pounds of food donated and we also raised $500 for the Friendship Center and Berkshire Humane animal shelter," Dugal said. "We also made a donation of $200 to the North Adams American Legion Christmas Dinner."
She said all donations this year will go to the Friendship Center, Berkshire Humane Society and the Community Elf Program.
The event is part of Project 351, a statewide service learning program that unites eighth-grade service "ambassadors" from every city and town in the commonwealth for an inspirational year of community service.
Students that participate in the program meet throughout the year and plan different projects.
"We try to loop Grades 8 and 7 in to give them a taste and we start in September and start organizing and putting everything together," Dugal said. "They expand on the ideas and they go a little further each year."
She said the project humbles students and opens their eyes to hardship throughout the country and in their own community.
"It really opens up their eyes when they visit the food pantries," she said. "If they can get a taste, that's so good because they will do something better. It's that whole idea of paying it forward."
She said beyond local community service efforts, state ambassadors are chosen for the project each year. Sarah Fortini of Florida and Zoe Oakes of Monroe will travel to Boston and participate in the Project 351 launch.
"They go to Boston and see a much larger picture," Dugal said. "They participate in service efforts there and then they come back and start their year of service here."
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