SMOKEY POINT — When the Marysville-Pilchuck High School shooting occurred Oct. 24, the Marysville Soroptimists wondered whether it was appropriate to go ahead with their annual auction and dinner.

“We didn’t want to take anything away from that tragedy,” said Renae James, former president of Soroptimist International of Marysville. “We were so stunned that we didn’t know what to do.”

Ultimately, the Soroptimists opted to proceed with their Oct. 25 fundraiser, even as they expected that this year’s attendance and proceeds might be significantly lower.

“We thought of all the things that those dollars could do for women and girls. From high school scholarships to our ‘Best for Women’ awards, which help women who are breadwinners in their families return to school,” said Linda Clay.

Clay coordinated this year’s event. “Between that and the programs that we support to combat domestic violence and human trafficking, if we hadn’t proceeded as planned, it would have cost the community even more.”

Instead, the Marysville Soroptimists broke records in both attendance, at nearly 200, and funds raised, netting around $38,000. Clay estimated that the previous record was $34,000.

“It was a huge blessing,” said James, who added that the Soroptimists would decide how to distribute those monies in November.

Clay praised the M-PHS Naval Junior ROTC cadets for helping set up the event, after they’d already worked a full day that Saturday helping their fellow students retrieve their property from the evacuated high school.