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Struthers PTA transforms cafeteria into Santa's workshop
Struthers students shop for family, friends
By Sarah Lehr
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 at 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 items 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.
Most student shoppers came armed with notes detailing everyone on their list. Some consulted with PTA members about what best to buy for their grandmas, cousins, siblings and friends.
“Everything they chose, they chose because it would be special to someone on their list even if it doesn’t seem special to us,” Ziccardi said. “It’s sweet when you see them with this long list of people to buy for.”
First-grader Leah Markotan, 6, was carefully selecting a special item for a family member.
A fellow first-grader, Connor Jones, 6, chose a small stuffed polar bear for one lucky recipient. The bear doesn’t have a name yet, though. He said he’ll let the recipient choose the name.