Here’s a round up of parent group stories in the news this week. From Seuss-themed auctions and art projects to pancakes and second-hand clothing, the stories might inspire and spark new creative ideas!

• PTA volunteers in Cedar Hill, Texas, were dubbed Hometown Heroes this week by the local FOX news station for their efforts to bring an art program to the Lake Ridge Elementary School. The PTA budgeted $400 for art programs at the school, which has no art classes at all this year.  In addition, PTA volunteers visit the students twice a month to lead an art project and provide instruction to kids in grades K-4.


• The PTO at Hudson High School (Ohio) raised $19,000 recently at its annual PTO Pancake Breakfast. The group served up 6,800 pancakes, 5,800 sausage links, 30 gallons of milk, and 75 gallons of orange juice. To pull that off, the group relied on a total of 260 volunteers.  They may have it down to a science at this point. This was the 55^th year of the PTO Pancake Breakfast.


• In Swampscott, Mass., volunteers from five PTOs are helping to run the recently launched Big Blue Bargains, a second-hand store set up in one of the old shop classrooms in the back of the town’s middle school. The store, which opened in mid-January, made about $3,300 in the first several weeks of operation. All profits will go to the schools. Kristen Dishman, president of the Big Blue Bargains Board, said she was inspired by The Magic Hat, a second-hand store in the neighboring town of Marblehead.


• “A Seuss on the Loose” Auction sponsored by the Granville Elementary School PTO in Ohio netted $66,000 last week.  The silent and live auction had 400-plus attendees and featured many hand-made creations from the students. A custom-made rocker went for $450, while a decoupage storage unit went for $1,900.