Struthers 'North Pole' offers students chance to give

STRUTHERS

The North Pole may seem a world away from Struthers Elementary School.

Elves, also known as Struthers PTA members, got busy this week, however, transforming the stage behind the cafeteria into Santa’s workshop.

Each year, the PTA sponsors a Santa Shop in which kindergarten through fourth-grade students can buy gifts for their family and friends. Everything in the store costs a buck and each student can buy up to 10 items.

Since the shop caters to 700 students and stocks about 7,000 items, the PTA began scouring dollar stores for potential gifts almost as soon as Christmas ended the previous year, PTA President Rachael Ziccardi said.

This year’s shop ran Monday through Thursday. The PTA doesn’t use the event to turn a profit, so the toys are essentially sold at-cost.

This year’s hot items included iPhone cases, chocolate made to look like a lump of coal, candles, selfie sticks and Silly Putty.

Read more about the event in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.