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Hilltoppers shop Santa’s Workshop for family and friends
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.A Hilltop Elementary School student shopped for her family at the school’s annual Santa’s Workshop Dec. 12.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Canfield Local Schools Superintendent Alex Geordan stopped by Hilltop Elementary School’s Santa’s Workshop and helped a second-grade student pick out gifts for her family and friends Dec. 12.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.A first-grade Hilltop Elementary School student got some shopping help and advice from her mom during the school’s annual Santa’s Workshop Dec. 12.
By ABBY SLANKER
Students at Hilltop Elementary School got a jump on the holiday shopping season at the school’s annual PTO-sponsored Santa’s Workshop Dec. 11-12. The holiday ‘store’ was set up in the school’s library by parent volunteers and is designed to be a safe, child-centered environment where children can learn how to budget and spend wisely, while also experiencing the gift of giving.
Before the children shopped at Santa’s Workshop, a form was sent home with the students which allowed them and their parents to make a list of the people, and pets, they wanted to buy for and create a budget for their each of their purchases.
Gifts available for purchase included nutcrackers, toys, a variety of holiday items, jewelry, ornaments, puzzles, mugs, tools and sports items. All items are priced from 25 cents to $5.
Not forgetting the students’ furry friends, items were also available for pets, including dog and cat toys.
After the children made their purchases for everyone on their lists, they went to the wrapping table where several PTO volunteers wrapped and labeled the gifts for the children to take home.
Several volunteer members of the PTO shop year-round for items for Santa’s Workshop, which gives the students the chance to pick out their own inexpensive, high-quality gifts for family and friends. A large variety of items are purchased, with something for everyone on the students’ lists.
The year-round shopping process, which focuses on buying items at deeply discounted prices, was started seven years ago to be able provide the students nice gifts as an alternative to ordering all the items from one company.
Noelle Domer served as chairmen of this year’s Santa’s Workshop. Dozens of volunteers were involved in this year’s workshop, performing such tasks as buying the items, organizing and pricing the items, setting up the workshop, helping the children shop, wrapping the children’s gifts and cleaning up after the workshop was over.