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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Students at Poland Union Elementary prepared for the schools annual PTO fundraiser the Holiday Shoppe. Pictured are, from left, (front) Avery Munford, Annabelle Munford, Milana Kalouris, Connor Henderson, Jaden Jones, Lexi Canter; (back) Chloe Garcia, Stone Garcia, Zach Armbrecht, Principal Mike Masucci, Kristina Cushner, Capri Carchedi and Aliyana Broderick.
By JESSICA HARKER
Poland Union Elementary School is preparing to kick off its biggest PTO fundraiser the annual Holiday Shoppe scheduled for Nov. 3.
This is the 15th year that the Holiday Shoppe has been hosted by Union’s PTO and is one of the largest craft shows in the area.
“It has become an enormous undertaking,” said Union Principal Mike Masucci. “Bless the PTO moms, both past and present, who take this on because it is a full time 11-month job.”
During the event, 90 tables are set up in Poland Seminary High School’s gymnasium where vendors pay a flat $50 fee to set up for eight hours and sell their products.
A range of vendors will be available during the event according to Masucci, who said the PTO makes an effort to keep the vendors spread out and diverse.
“Our committee does a nice job of doing the best they can to be sure we don’t have two tables next to each other selling the same thing,” Masucci said.
Along with vendors, the PTO at Poland Union will also hold a huge bake sale throughout the day.
“It probably rivals the typical Youngstown wedding with the cookie table its that big,” Masucci said.
He said that the PTO has an entire committee dedicated to packaging the donated goods, and that many people attend the event solely for the bake sale.
The event also features basket raffles, many of which are items donated by vendors at the show.
Each homeroom class at Poland Union also puts together a classroom basket with different themes.
Masucci said that each student is encouraged to bring something in for the basket for $5 or less that fits the theme.
PTO volunteers then spend time packaging the baskets to be raffled.
“We do put them on display in front of the kids the week before and they get the first chance to buy tickets and put them in the basket to win,” Masucci said.
During the event the PTO will also host a 50/50 raffle and have concessions for sale.
“Last years 50/50 winner took home over $1,300,” Masucci said.
The main attraction, according to Masucci, is the Family Fun Pack, which is a large, usually expensive group of items.
This year the basket will feature 10 one-day Disney World park hopper passes as well as a variety of other prizes, which in the past have featured Cleveland Indian’s tickets, vouchers for different classes and even sets of patio furniture.
“We have given away four wheelers and motorized cars,” Masucci said. “We buy something huge and we bundle it with a bunch of other things that are huge in their own way.”
Masucci said that the PTO typically averages a profit of $1,600-$1,700 that is then used to reinvest in the students.
“All the things the PTO puts on throughout the year is funded through the Holiday Shoppe,” Masucci said.
He said that the event will draw thousands of people locally, and will run from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
“This event goes on all day long and without volunteers it never would happen,” Masucci said.
There are 43 members of the PTO at Union Elementary who volunteer for the event.
“It’s really a true blessing to have so much help in our school and in our school community,” Masucci said.