HENRY COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Susan Burton
Communications Director
Buchanan, TN – Lakewood students had fun shopping for their family members and themselves this week at the third annual Elf Shop sponsored by the school’s Parent Teacher Organization. PTO volunteers help students select the perfect gifts and offer free Christmas gift wrapping.
All students are given an opportunity to visit the Elf Shop using their own money or donated funds. Gifts range from $1 - $10. The Elf Shop is one of the biggest fall semester fundraisers for the PTO. “It’s a big undertaking,” says PTO president Amanda Paschall. “We buy gifts all year long, especially when items go on sale so that we’ll have a large selection of gifts for students to choose from.” Earlier in the week, there were thousands of selections on tables and this last day’s table count demonstrates how successful the event is with only hundreds of items remaining.
The PTO organizes fundraising events throughout the year and welcomes all parents to volunteer and participate in them. “We have a Lakewood PTO Facebook page that announces our events and how to volunteer. We need more parents and family members to play an active role in the school.”
“We also arrange for a popcorn Friday each month,” says PTO Vice President, Ashley Spears. She further explains the next big events will be the Spring Fling dance for families in PK-5th grades and a middle school dance for students. The PTO is also responsible for Teacher Appreciation in May.
If you need to get that last-minute gift for someone special and to support a great cause, the Elf Shelf will be open tonight during the Lakewood Band, Chorus, and Strings concert on December 12 at 6:00 p.m.
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Photo 1: PTO volunteers, Spears left and Paschall, right, help a Lakewood student select gifts for family and friends.
Photo 2
: Students can choose gifts from various price points and get them wrapped for free.