The Fair Grove Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) has teamed with the High School clubs STUCO, FFA, FTA, FBLA, DECA, and the A+ program to run the annual holiday shop from December 12th-15th for Fair Grove Elementary students.
The PTO Holiday Shop is a fundraiser that has existed in the elementary at Fair Grove for many years and has become a Fair Grove tradition for younger kids in the school district. The PTO organizes and sets up a shop with hundreds of items for children to buy and give to their friends or family for Christmas.
Organizing this school wide event takes months of preparation for members of the parent teacher organization. A lot of thought and careful planning goes into setting up the holiday shop year after year. Gift purchasing for the event starts right after Christmas and lasts all year long.
Although putting on the holiday shop takes the collaborative works of many workers and volunteers, none of it could have been done without Ashley Lederich, who was this year’s PTO Holiday Shop chairperson. She has been hard at work leading up the entire project and making sure everything was ready for the children.
Lederich explained, “It’s a very tough job, but also rewarding because you get to help 535 kids help shop for their families which is really special to see them be generous… and it’s a lot of fun!”
This year was Lederich’s second year as event chair and her third year working the event herself. With years of experience under her belt and hours of extra preparation work, she was able to keep the Holiday Shop stocked and running smoothly. Lederich said, “We shop sales and clearance throughout the year. We also spend many, many days buying supplies to wrap and tag gifts, pricing every item, sorting them, and making a couple hundred gift kits.”
With an event as big as the holiday shop, the PTO relies on helpful high school volunteers. Fair Grove STUCO is one of the clubs that lends a helping hand every year when it comes to working this event. They are able to help kids to shop, wrap, and tag all of the gifts they buy.
Stephanie Dunham (12) is one of these high school student helpers. As Fair Grove’s Student Body President, Dunham prepared for the event by organizing on the volunteer side. Dunham stated, “In preparation for this event Student Council has assigned everyone to specific shifts throughout the day to go down to the elementary and work the Holiday Shop.”
Brooklyn Mauldin (11) is another student volunteer who enjoys the impact that this event creates for the Fair Grove community. She explained, “The Holiday Shop has an important impact on the community, it helps STUCO and other clubs step into leadership and volunteer roles while giving kids the Christmas spirit. Kids look forward to it every single year!”
This weeklong event allowed all elementary students a chance to participate in the joy of giving to others. Even students without money to spend on gifts were able to pick out something to give away due to the Every Kid Shops fund. Lederich added, “No one is left behind. Everyone gets to experience the joy of giving.”
PTO Holiday Shop took place the week of December 12 through December 15, hundreds of kids were able to shop for friends and family, getting the elementary into the holiday spirit.
