CLEARFIELD – The St. Francis School PTO will host its first PTO Christmas Gift Gala on Dec. 3, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at St. Francis School.
The Gift Gala will consist of food and a variety of vendors, said Jen Allison PTO president. The types of vendors will be home party representatives (such as Pampered Chef, Mary Kay and Silpada), as well as local vendors that make crafts and candies. Starr Hill Winery will be there and offering wine tasting, as well as Lanagers selling wreaths. Entertainment is also lined up for various times throughout the day, Allison said.
Kerri Miller will be taking family portraits, Allison said, she will charge a $10 sitting fee that will be donated to the PTO, and then people will have the opportunity to go to her website and preview and order photographs. Santa will also be there from 9-11 and 1-4, Miller will be also taking photographs with Santa. Mrs. Clause will also be there.
Concessions will be available by the St. Francis Athletic Department offering donuts, muffins and coffee in the morning and offering items such as hot dogs, pizza, sloppy joes and nachos in the afternoon.
This event is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend. “It creates a welcoming atmosphere and brings people from the public into our school,” Allison said, “The Gift Gala fosters a sense of family and community. It provides a service and allows for fundraising that goes beyond the usual ‘selling’ of products by the students.”
Money raised from the Gift Gala will be used for class trips, assemblies, classroom supplies and other various needs and wants that come up throughout the school year, Allison said. She explained that the fence around the playground was completed over the summer, new first aid kits were distributed to all the classrooms, new tables were bought for the cafeteria and a flat screen television were all purchases made by the PTO to benefit St. Francis School in the past year.
“It would be great to see it grow,” Allison said. The Gift Gala will hopefully take pressure off of the parents to sell items for fundraising, and it helps St. Francis School and local businesses and vendors that participate.
“The huge perks of coming as a family are the opportunity to have their portrait taken, enjoying time together as a family, the little ones getting to see Santa and the opportunity to get some Christmas shopping done,” Allison said.