Santa’s Workshop to raise funds for PI Elementary PTO
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — While children enjoy receiving gifts for Christmas, they also like giving them, but it isn’t always easy for little ones to shop for their family and friends.
That task, however, is going to be easier this year thanks to the efforts of the Presque Isle Elementary PTO.
Santa’s Workshop will be held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 at Pine Street Elementary School.
“Santa’s Workshop is a chance for children up through fifth grade to purchase gifts for their friends and family for the coming holidays,” said Mel Junkins, Zippel Elementary School chair of the PTO. “Children will be able to select from hundreds of gift items priced from 25 cents to $3. We wanted to keep it affordable so all kids could come in and shop for everyone on their list. They can also have all their gifts wrapped on site for free.”
Junkins said gift items were purchased online from a variety of retailers.
“We have items for everyone — Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles,” she said. “We have backscratchers, coffee mugs, jewelry, whoopee cushions, inflatable animals and much, much more.”
So that children will be able to shop without their parents finding out what they’ll receive for Christmas, chaperones will help the kids with their wish lists.
“We have approximately 30 Presque Isle High School students who will walk around with anybody who needs assistance,” said Junkins, “but they’re more intended to help out the kindergarten to grade 2 crowd. We’re going to give the high school students a wish list that Mom or Dad or whomever filled out that says, for example, the child can spend $3 on Mom or $2 on their brother, and then the chaperones will go around and help the little ones shop.”
Both Zippel Elementary and Pine Street schools have their own stocking that teachers have been filling with goodies for the kids. Raffle tickets for the stockings are $1 each and winners will be drawn that day. School T-shirts will also be raffled.
Families will be able to enjoy a bite to eat at Santa’s Workshop, as well. Area businesses have donated chili, hotdogs, a variety of baked goods and cookies, and hot chocolate and coffee that will all be for sale.
In addition, Santa will visit with the children from 9 a.m.-noon, so parents are encouraged to bring their cameras.
Junkins said she hopes to raise $2,000 from the Santa’s Workshop fundraiser. Proceeds will allow the PTO to continue to provide such items as tissues for the classrooms, as well as special programs for the students.
“While Santa’s Workshop is sponsored by the PI Elementary PTO,” said Junkins, “it’s really meant for any student in The County up through grade 5. We have posters up in outlying towns advertising it. You don’t have to be a student in SAD 1 to attend. It’s a community-wide event that’s meant to spread some holiday cheer.”
