Mt. SAC held their 15th annual Winter Boutique on Dec. 4 where students and faculty were able to purchase and auction off goodies to help with the student emergency fund, which is managed out of the financial aid department.
The event began on the second floor of building 410 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fundraiser included many different activities and ways that students could receive when they came to contribute with the fundraiser and as the event went on. While the hot chocolate and photos with Santa were free, students could purchase cookies and baked goods.
Another way to participate in the fundraiser was by purchasing different pieces of jewelry like necklaces and rings. A big ticket item was custom wreaths that ended up being auctioned off in the range of $100 to $200.
Christine Romeo, the project and program specialist for the inreach department of student services explained how wonderful the setup process was.
“The process is wonderful. I have a boutique committee that have worked these events over and over again for many years,” Romeo said. “The event itself has been going on for about maybe 17 years and it was initiated out of the vice president office of Audrey Yamagata-Noji.”
With the event being a fundraiser, every item is donated by staff and faculty. However, students are allowed to participate in the auctions with every dollar spent being contributed to the emergency fund.
“The auctions can get very exciting and there can be a battle for who is going to be the winning bid,” Romeo said. “Most often the people who participate are faculty and staff.”
Audrey Yamagata-Noji, the previous Vice President of Student Services, started the fundraiser 15 years ago to help establish an emergency fund for students.
“But to get the money in the fund we had to fundraise. So we started having these,” Yamagata-Noji said. “We created an emergency fund for students but to get the money in the fund we had to fundraise, so we started having these holiday boutiques where people would donate items and create items and then we would create money.”
With Yamagata-Noji running the fundraiser though the years there were many rewarding parts when it comes to running the fundraiser.
“I think you have to have cooperation people have to want to be a part of it like donating items on the one hand,” Yamagata-Noji said. “On the other hand people have to come and be willing to purchase them but it’s all for a good cause it goes directly to a cause to help students in need.”
The fundraiser concluded at 3 p.m. and the auction winners were able to collect their prizes. Prizes that were not sold would be put away, and event staff cleaned up. If you are a student who is in need of emergency fund access, the financial aid office is in building 9B on the second floor.
