PTO Today

Hello. Over two weeks ago our area was hit hard by hurricane IKE. We weren't a direct hit and most are still in our homes but most of the area just got power back this weekend - yes 2 weeks later. Things are still in chaos for most of us but for the most part everyone is safe and sound. Here is how IKE hit our PTO. We were scheduled to kick off our fall fundraiser which we had selected to do the Spare a dollar campaign. Most parents had expressed wanting to do a buyout program and we felt this event was a good fit for our families. Well IKE came into town and we have selected to forgo our fundraiser out of respect for our families and their current financial situations. We are not asking for any extra money for the remainder of the 2008 school year so families can get back on their feet. We are a title 1 school and we have different family incomes. As i said many were without power, many purchased generators, lost their refrigerator contents and many had trees and house damage. I really hope the parents of our school appreciate us not asking for money as we are not in critical need of it. We have saved and spent well which allows us to do this. Has anyone had to adjust their fundraiser due to a disaster like this? Did the parents support and appreciate you more after you made your decision? I just really want the parents to know that we want to help them and respect everyone no matter what. Will they support us more with our other little events and then with our spring fundraiser? I just hope we made the right decision out of respect for all the families at our school. Sorry this is long just trying to get some reassurance that we made the right choice. The other schools in our feeder zone are going to continue with their fundraisers and some are even a buyout program. We are the only ones who passed on ours. Just hoping we didn't shoot ourselves in the foot. Let me know your thoughts and how you would take it as a parent. Thank you for your time and comments

I personally respoect your decision.

But I will say it may be much to hope that the families who are going through so much right now are going to even think about the school PTO, let alone that a fundraiser wasn't done.

If your group sends out newsletters I'd say have the President write something up about how the group is so lucky financially and that out of respect for the current situation your group will not be asking for funds via fundraisers this year.

This will at least get the message out.

I feel that you definitely did the right thing as long as this won't affect your group's activities detrimentally. If it looks like it will then you can try to throw a new fundraiser in come next year, after everyone is back on their feet.

Good luck,
PresidentJim

I absolutely think you did the right thing! I was involved with PTO at a Title I school which was hit by a hurricane (in Florida) a few years ago, so I think I can appreciate your situation. Your families need to concentrate on getting back on their feet right now.

PresidentJim's suggestion that you make your decision known is an excellent one. Communication is so important.

We were able to assist families who evacuated to our area after Hurricane Katrina. We had several children temporarily enrolled at our school because of the location of the shelter where their families lived for months. Most of them evacuated with only enough clothes for a weekend, and then they lost their homes and couldn't return.

We solicited donations from area businesses - and I hit up my neighbors. We sent home personal invitations all the Katrina families for a chili dinner at the school one evening. Then we surprised them with lots of clothing, school supplies, laundry detergent, some fresh fruit and vegetables, and nonperishable food. We had everything laid out on tables and invited them to "shop" for anything they thought they could use. In one case, there were so many family members in the vehicle that a PTO member delivered their donations in his car. They were all very grateful, and we hope they have at least some fond memories of their time here.