MARYSVILLE — Marysville-Pilchuck High School’s Life Skills program hosted a Holiday Silent Auction at M-PHS on Dec. 10, the proceeds from which will go toward a new van for the class’s trips and activities.

M-P’s Life Skills class serves M-P students with developmental disabilities and helps them to prepare for the next stage of their lives with job shadowing and participation in work crews.

“It’s about pulling parents together and helping students,” M-P Life Skills teacher Jim Strickland said. “It strengthens connections and tells the community who we are. Any money we raise, of course, goes to the program.”

Blue and white balloons, paper snowflakes and winter wonderland-themed tables bearing Christmas cookies for all to enjoy set a festive mood for the evening’s events. Dinner, Jamba Juice and popcorn were available for all in attendance.

Items up for bidding included jewelry from Cookie Lee Jewelry, a “Scene It?” movie trivia game, an Apple iHome system, a set of golf clubs, fudge and caramel apples from The Fudgery in Marysville, a Gibson “Epiphany Special” electric guitar, a “Toy Story 3” play set, baskets of fruit and chocolate, and a Cookie Master Plus cordless cookie press.

The program’s active and growing parent group suggested the auction to raise funds for the program, though they insisted that Angie Wilson, mother of Life Skills student Parker Wilson, came up with the idea and worked for six weeks to make it happen. Wilson found the auction items through donations from stores and businesses in the Marysville community. Dana Strickland, Jim’s wife, handled the event’s decorations and the arrangement of the gifts. The program spread word of the auction through flyers and emails.

“We wouldn’t be here without donations,” Angie Wilson said. “This is just the beginning. We hope to do this next year.”

A 50-50 raffle, of which half the proceeds went to the Life Skills program, was the evening’s entertainment.

Zach Keefe, Parker’s cousin and a racer at Deming Speedway, which donated two family passes and $60 in food vouchers, was in attendance. Keefe’s 1200 Mini Sprint car bears an “Autism Speaks” sticker to support those in need.

At the end of the night the program had raised a total of $1,567.

Anyone can make donations to the nonprofit Parker’s Cure through U.S. Bank, Wilson said