Hilltoppers shop for the holidays
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Hilltop Elementary School third-grade students, and twins, shopped for holiday gifts for their family and friends during the school’s annual Santa’s Workshop Dec. 11.
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Two Hilltop Elementary School students had fun together as they shopped for holiday gifts at the school’s annual Santa’s Workshop Dec. 11.
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Third-grade Hilltop Elementary School student Tyler Miller received some shopping help from his mom, Teresa, during the school’s annual Santa’s Workshop Dec. 11.
By ABBY SLANKER
Hilltop Elementary School students shopped till they dropped at the school’s annual PTO-sponsored Santa’s Workshop Dec. 9-11. 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 each of their purchases.
Gifts for all ages were available for purchase and included toys and games, a variety of holiday items, jewelry, ornaments, books, mugs, tools and sports items. All items were priced from 25 cents to $5.
When the children had completed their shopping, 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 high-quality gifts for family and friends at a low cost. A variety of items are purchased after the holidays when discounts are available.
The year-round shopping process, which focuses on buying items at deeply discounted prices, was started eight years ago to be able to provide the students nice gifts as an alternative to ordering all the items for Santa’s Workshop from one company.
Noelle Domer served as chairmen of this year’s Santa’s Workshop and Alyssa Farris served as lead shopper. 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 packing up after the workshop was over.