Hi COVP--we do a couple things. Over the summer we do a school supplies shopping program where basically we take orders from parents and do the supply shopping for them. Since we buy in bulk we get better prices (plus the discount for tax free). On that form we ask if folks are willing to purchase and donate a school supply packet to a specific grade. Believe it or not we've had upwards of 35 complete packets donated. We use any incidental money we make on this program to purchase tissues, hand sanitizing liquid etc. We also do a donation during the holidays to the assistant prinicpals "Make a Difference" collection. Basically the prinicpal and vice identify those kids in need and collect toward their support during the holidays. Last year we donated about 700 dollars and the teachers and parents donated about 500 so 6 kids had a much better winter than they would have without our support. Of course we don't advertise that at all, we just quietly list it on the list of support programs we do...and we also don't know the names of the children involved so there is no embarrasement factor.
Finally-we hold penny jar collections for specific events. Last year we raised over 1200 for the tsunami relief efforts. We then had kids and teachers and prinicipals show up to pack the items we bought with the money and load it onto a conex heading to the hardest hit areas.
This is also in concert with our support of the children's hospital toy drive. We have some very generous and appreciative families...
Dianna
AT the end of our fiscal year, we provide our principal with 2 "scholarships" to help families in need pay their tuition. Each scholarship is given totally at the discretion of the principal.
These scholarships cover about one months tuition, but for some families that is critical.
Also, we have a foundation established for families in need of financial assistance. People can donate to the fund whenever they want. In the past, when there has been a death of a parent or someone close to the school, the PTO makes a contribution to that fund as a memorial to the individual.
Hope that helps.
We don't have a program at the school, but several different agencies in the community hold a "Stuff the Bus" drive. They take the items donated and distribute it through Salvation Army, area abuse centers, homeless councile, etc. This year alone there was over $60,000 of items donated.
Teachers can make special requests to the principal who in turn contacts a school district liaison, who then try to supply the child with their needs.
At the end of the school year we had just over 500 families that had school age children that were homeless.
That reminds me:
In our school district, registration fees fall under a free and reduced program just like school meals. If a family fits in a certain income level, they might pay nothing or only a reduced fee.
Our group does not do anything of this nature. Our school gets donations from people and businesses and they give out supplies or backpacks when needed. As for the cost of enrollment, I know all school are different, but our district just has one fee that covers all books and such materials and if you can't pay it that day they will make arrangements with you. If you don't pay by the end of the year, the district gets ahold of you to work something out. They have never turned anyone away that couldn't pay.
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
We've never done a "scholarship" program but we have used registration and open house as opportunities for parents to donate items for students in need, then those supplies go to an area in the school office where they are distributed by staff.
We do have a scholarship program for a portion of the TAG program. There is a summer school type program for gifted students at a local college. The cost is pretty high so we established a scholarship program for students who need financial help in order to attend. The TAG teacher and the principal identify the students and contact the parents, then the PTO simply writes the check for the fees. We do not release any names or information other than the program funds were either used or not used each year.
Confidentiality in this type of program is crucial, so I would recommend having your principal identify who needs help and offering the assistance. Then maybe the PTO could either be provided with a list of items needed or your group could write the check to the school district or individual school with a designation of what the money is to be used for and let the principal distribute the funds. I wouldn't recommend writing checks to individual persons.
