BAY MINETTE — Students, parents and teachers will once again come together to provide food, fun and fellowship as they raise money for their schools during the seventh annual S.O.S. — Support Our Schools, Festival.

The event, which will take place Saturday, Feb. 5, at the Bay Minette Middle School from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., is hosted by the Bay Minette Civic Club and will benefit the eight schools in the North Baldwin feeder pattern: Baldwin County High School, Bay Minette Elementary School, Bay Minette Intermediate School, Bay Minette Middle School, Delta Elementary School, Perdido School, Pine Grove Elementary School and Stapleton Elementary School.

The S.O.S. Festival started in 2004 when school budgets were being cut, BMCC President Greg Mais said.

“I used the S.O.S. acronym because schools were in financial distress, and hoped the community would Support Our Schools,” he said. “We decided to invite the schools in the Baldwin County High School feeder pattern. We were not sure if nine — Vaughn Elementary School was open then, schools would work together. But the principals and teachers thanked us for bringing them together.”

Mais said the event has become a “family reunion” of sorts each year since many staff have worked at other involved schools, while students and their parents are able to visit with their former principals and teachers.

“The first five (festivals) were at Bay Minette Civic Center, until we outgrew it and had to move to the BMMS gym,” Mais said.

 He said the Bay Minette Civic Club's goal is to help schools raise money for classrooms, PTO and group projects, or whatever each school decides they need, and to showcase school performance groups to the community.

 “Besides much needed funds, I feel the schools receive community awareness and the feeling of working together for a good cause,” he said. “Each school keeps the money they raise by selling drawing tickets and in their booth.”

 He said more than $16,000 was raised for the schools last year.

Raffle tickets are being sold for $1 each by all North Baldwin students and staff, as well as BMCC members, and can be purchased any time between now and 2:45 p.m. the day of the festival. The four drawings, for $500 cash from the BMCC, a set of three tables from Standard Furniture, an Apple iPod Touch from Gulf Coast Motors and a Nintendo Wii from 1st Choice Home Improvements, will be at 3 p.m.

A silent auction will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The auction will feature a three-day, two-night stay at the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club and Spa in Point Clear; one canoe rental and a two-night stay in the historic School House Inn in Milton, Fla.; a $100 gift card from Wind Creek Casino and Hotel in Atmore; two daily admission tickets to the Alabama Adventure Water and Theme Park in Bessemer; Piedmont Blues seven-piece harmonica set from Picker's Paradise in Stapleton; “All in to Win” Auburn National Championship Book and four Auburn National Championship Posters, donated by Tina Covington; hand-made doilies by Deborah Agerton of BMIS; and a Mardi Gras Wreath, donated by BMIS.

Mais said more items are arriving and suggested residents visit the club’s website at bmcivicclub.com/SOS_Festival_7.html.

In addition to the various activities, schools will perform in between cake walks, and each school will have a booth to raise additional money.

For more information, visit the website or call Mais at (251) 463-1909.

Schedule of performances:

10 a.m.: Delta Elementary School O's Angel Choir

10:30 a.m.:Bay Minette Elementary Project Tiger Paws

11 a.m.: North Baldwin Sixth Grade Band

11:30 a.m.: Bay Minette Middle School Dance Team

Noon: Baldwin County High School Jazz Band

12:30 p.m.: Bay Minette Intermediate School Intermediettes

1 p.m.: Baldwin County High School Tigerettes and Color Guard

1:30 p.m.: Pine Grove Elementary School Pre-K Chorus

2 p.m.: Baldwin County High School Air Force JROTC

2:30 p.m.: Stapleton Elementary School fourth-fifth-grade chorus