Published: November 14, 2008 04:31 pm         

Skyline PTA sells baskets

Ginger Andrews pulled her daughter Emma’s arm down to stop her from bidding for a Hannah Montana basket, but when a “For Girls Only” basket came up for bid several items later, Andrews let her daughter go.

Emma, a kindergartener, looked up at her parents each time the bid increased, and with their nods of approval, raised her hand and won.

“My dad’s going to have to pay,” she said. “I don’t have enough money.”

Emma wanted to bid on every basket at Skyline Elementary School’s annual basket auction fundraiser Tuesday night. Skyline’s PTA sold dozens of themed-baskets put together by parent helpers for each classroom using donations from students. The baskets came in all shapes and sizes, ranging from a Longaberger collectible basket with OSU lining, to a laundry basket and a firepit. Each had its own theme, like “Get Well Soon” or “Kids’ Night Out,” and was piled high with items that included spices, movie passes, basketball tickets, hand-crafted baby blankets and jewelry.

Families filtered into the school cafeteria, and a line extended out the door for nearly an hour leading up to the start of the auction as people waited to eat pizza, salad and cookies.

A collection of portraits from students in every grade, made with watercolors, crayons and pieces of nature, like sea shells, popcorn kernels and dried corn husks, lined the hallways and shelves in the library. Students led their parents through the building, showing off their art work and class baskets.

Fifth-grader Eleanor Shore donated hot chocolate for a “Cozy Winter’s Night” basket because she said she likes cocoa, and winter is approaching. Shore said her favorite basket had a birthday party theme and a giant party-hat-shaped pinata on top. It contained party favors, invitations, decorations, cake supplies and more.

Trisha Gedon, a parent volunteer for Jan Anderson’s fourth-grade class, helped put together a “Taste of Tuscany” basket. She has been participating in the auction since her oldest son, now an eighth-grader, attended Skyline. Gedon said the baskets get better every year.

She said they were a source of pride for the students, who loved to show them off, and sometimes walked them around the room to model for parents.

“It’s a lot of fun because everybody gets involved,” Gedon said. “When the auction gets started, everyone gets really excited.”

The PTA raised approximately $3,000 from basket sales. Once the baskets were gone, volunteers from Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity auctioned off left-over pizza and cookies.

It was the first basket auction fundraiser for the Andrews family. Ginger Andrews said she was glad that parents and kids both got to participate.

After Emma won the “For Girls Only” basket, when the next basket for auction sold, she turned to her mom.

“It wasn’t me,” she said.

“You keep your hands down,” Ginger Andrews said, grinning.

     

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