Please don't take this the wrong way, but if someone wants to participate, whether it be for supporting the school or their children, they'll find a way to do it, whether they are too proud or not. We gave away several fairly expensive items at our first meeting this year. The ones who we would normally call "too proud" were the ones who continued coming back for more entry blanks for the raffles, while the one's who we consider "better off" graciously filled out only one. It was sad that the ones who felt they were "too proud" were the one's who won. There was a rule as to filling out ONLY ONE form. They were informed, yet when we turned our backs, they would get another one - even more. Also, it makes you wonder if that's all they came to the meeting for. They've never shown up before (some of them have children in many various ages and seem to have at least one in our school every year), and I'm guesing they won't be back since it's only one per household and we'll be doing the same raffles for the next two meetings. They were also the ones who ate more than anyone else did and we ended up running out of refreshments. Everyone was told about the limit in foods so there would be enough for everyone and it was stated in a polite manner. God knows we purchased enough to last for two meetings. As PTO president for my school, I understand there are obstacles we have to look for when it comes to low income or destitute families, but it seems like many of our low income / destitute families come up to the school with brand new $30 - $40,000 vehicles, dress better than anyone else in the school and still have all the special benefits of the low income family. They are the ones who seem to have the most expensive everything. There's nothing wrong with having nice things. I personally am a low income parent and barely make it from pay check to paycheck for necessities. My husband and I both work full time jobs and I work a part time job. I struggle to help support PTO and other school fundraisers. I pick up cans on weekends to do these extra little things for the kids and to help support the school. My time is extremely valuable when I can get a day off. Yet, these "too proud" parents don't do anything, except sit at home everyday. "Too Proud"? Give me a break.
Out of approximately 700 students at our PRE-K throug 6th grade school, nearly half are reduced price or free lunch students.
Our PTO developed a "Caught Being Good" program that is administered by the Principal and Counselor. For our upcoming Fall Festival I gave the Principal a supply of dinner and game tickets and colorful "Caught Being Good" envelopes with a message inside explaining to parents that their child was "Caught Being Good" today and was rewarded with festival tickets. The main goal is to target the needier children, but these will also go to children who aren't considered "needy".
Our Principal was thrilled at the idea of being able to go into the classrooms and hand these out. The festival is in 3 weeks and he started randomly distributing these last week. So far, we've had only positive feedback:}
If all goes well, we plan to continue the program for other events like the Santa Shop, dances, etc.
It really worries me that you would even consider rigging a raffle. Our school is somewhat like yours as far as economic diversity. We have upper-middle class to homeless families. We have debated this issue this fall also. We decided to do a couple of things: 1.We held an all-school school supply drive. We gave out notices at enrollment and asked each family to pick up one extra item when they were shopping for supplies. We had such a great response!! We received everything from a bottle of glue to full back packs. We also hit up Wal-mart and they donated all of there left over supplies to our school. As far as distibution goes, we left that up to the staff. All the supplies were put in a central location and the teachers can pick up items as needed. 2.We decided to not pay for anyones activities. We felt like there is a need for this, but there is no good way to decide on who gets help. My husbabnd and I make a decent living, nothing great, but we can pay the bills. I know people that are on the lunch program that make more than we do, so that's not exactly a fair way to judge need.
If you are set on giving assistance to some of the kids, the best way to do it is to let the Principle make the call. [img]smile.gif[/img]
AWESOME ideas - which is why I come here in the first place. Thank you all - as I head off to our last "pre-season" board meeting in an hour and a half, now I've got more food for thought. School starts on Tuesday so we're dotting our i's and crossing our t's tonight. Thanks for all of your (plural) help and support over the summer. I would have drowned without you guys.
Here is an idea: Each year, I purchase extra school supplies (glue, cartoon/superhero pencils, scissors, notebooks, plain lunchboxes, plain backpacks, etc... it all goes on sale two weeks after school starts and can be picked up SO cheap)and donate them to the classroom prize boxes. If Johnny reads X amount of books, he gets to pick from the prize box, you all know what I'm talking about. Now Jason's parents bought him all that stuff, so he isn't going to go after school supplies. Little Aaron, on the other hand, didn't get any school supplies due to his folks not having the money. Little Aaron can be counted on to 'earn' his school supplies. He wants his own scissors and crayons just like the other kids and trust me, he will read an book to earn them. You can tie this through the classroom, through the nurses office (he/she REALLY knows who is in need), through the library, etc. No one is any the wiser.
You'll definitely hurt your group's credibility if you rig that raffle. Your teachers can help you distribute the goods discretely. Several years back our PTO receieved a cash donation from some wonderful folks to help provide school supplies for kids in need. We asked the teachers to come to us with the need, and we would give them the supplies to give to the children. It worked out well for us.
