Thanks for the input! Our school has decided to collaborate with a local social service agency. We're asking our families to donate food, new toys, household items, stocking stuffers and holiday baskets. We'll bring the items to the agency who will then distribute to our families and other needing families in the community so that all families will have gifts to open for the holidays. By suggesting small items along with some bigger ticket stuff, we're hoping that all our families will have the ability to contribute. We're striving to include the entire school in the joy of giving during the holidays.
On a related note - all the kids will be making holiday cards that the PTA will deliver along with gift baskets to many of our local retirement homes.
Our school has a program like this, however it is run by the assistant principal. As the president I asked the prinicipal to handle all cases where we had a student that required "sponsorship" for one of our events. I didn't mind assisting in that manner (i.e. a child couldn't afford to attend the math club but needed the club academically). She however, was the only one that knew which child it was. I just added in as many sponsorships as she needed (and to which the board agreed apporpriate).
In our program, the teachers accept donations of money and then our aprinicpal and some select teachers shop, wrap and distro the gifts to those who needed support. It provides a depth to our school, but I agree the direct giving should stay out of PTO channels.
I agree with Jewel. While this is a great thing to do for "needy" families, it really should not be the PTO's purpose or mission. Maybe it would be best if a a neutral person at the school such as the counselor or nurse took on this project.
I think you need to go back to determining the purpose of your PTO. What is your mission? Is it (like ours) to increase and improve educational opportunities for the children by providing resources and materials not otherwise covered by the school budget? If so, the attempt to give gift cards to low income families, while a nice thought, doesn't meet the mission of your PTO and shouldn't be pursued.
A more appropriate way to help these families might be to compile a listing of social service agencies in your area, what types of things they assist families with, their hours, phone number and address. Send the sheet home with every child. Those who need to act on the information will then have it all conveniently listed out for them.
why is it so obvious who is receiving these gifts? Yes, this does seem like a handout and i would be embarrassed knowing that other parents knew i was getting their donations.
Our school has a very wide socio-economic range. In the past a flyer has gone to all families asking to donate money during the holidays to buy gift cards for some of the lower income families at our school. While being able to help out our families with money during the holidays seems good and generous, there is also a sense that this is a "handout" that makes the recipient uncomfortable. It is very obvious who is giving and who is receiving. I'm looking for feedback on how other schools handle "giving" during the holidays. Is it appropriate to give gift cards? Gifts? Does this just exacerbate the differences among families? We're really struggling to find the right balance. I am not convinced that one half of the school should be giving "holiday gifts" and the other half receiving....Is there a way that the whole school can participate in giving? Thanks for any ideas!
