Bay College's TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program is preparing for its annual Silent Night Auction, inviting students, faculty, staff, and community members to donate items and participate in the fundraiser. Donations are being accepted now through November 22, 2026, with bidding taking place November 23 through December 4.
TRIO Student Support Services at Bay College is a federally funded program that provides academic support, mentoring, transfer planning, and other services to help students graduate and transfer to four-year institutions.
The Silent Night Auction is an annual fundraiser that helps TRIO raise additional money to expand its services and activities beyond students enrolled in the program. While TRIO receives federal grant funding, those funds have restrictions on how they can be used. Money raised through the auction provides additional flexibility and allows more Bay College students to participate in TRIO-sponsored opportunities.
"The auction is a way for us to raise some additional money so we can do things that our federal grant doesn't cover," said Bay College Director of TRIO Student Support Services Matt Stewart. "For example, we typically provide food at our events because we've found that it helps get students involved and encourages participation. Our grant doesn't cover food, so having these additional funds makes a difference. It also allows us to open up more of our activities and events to students outside of TRIO."
TRIO is accepting donations of homemade, new, and lightly used items to be included in the auction. Students, employees, and community members are all encouraged to contribute.
The auction schedule is as follows:
- Donation Period: Now through November 22
- Bidding Period: November 23 through December 4
- Item Pickup: December 7 through December 11
Anyone interested in bidding can stop by the HUB on Bay College's Escanaba campus to view auction items and obtain a bidding number. The auction is open to the public, and community members are welcome to both donate and bid.
"We appreciate everyone who donates an item or takes the time to come in and bid," Stewart said. "It's something we've done for years, and the support we get makes a difference in what we're able to offer students."
For more information about the Silent Night Auction or donating an item, contact a TRIO at trio@baycollege.edu.
About Bay College
Bay College is the community’s college with a mission of: Student Success, Community Success, and Culture of Success. Bay is devoted to each individual’s achievement in the classroom, on-campus, online, in the community and into the workforce by providing career certificates, associate degrees, transferable university credits, industry certifications, trainings, and professional development programs which develop skillsets, enrich individuals, and advance careers. #BayIsTheWay