PTOs Persevere in Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy
Hurr
rica
ricane Sandy clobbered St. Rose Grammar School in Belmar, N.J., just as it did so many other homes, schools, and businesses along the Eastern seaboard.
At St. Rose, the PTO was getting ready for its big fundraiser, an auction that was scheduled to take place four days after the storm hit. Most of the auction work was done, and then Sandy’s floods came, destroying the gift baskets that had been so carefully assembled.
But something pretty amazing is happening now. The PTO reached out for help on social media channels and got a tremendous response. The group posted on our Facebook page and now many PTO leaders are offering to assist St. Rose’s PTO so it can hold its auction early next year.
Just another example of the kindness and generosity we so often see in this PTO community—you certainly have each other’s backs!
We were also reminded this week of how determined PTOs can be. Just the other day, we heard about a PTO in Point Pleasant, N.J., a community near St. Rose. In this case, the G. Harold Antrim Elementary PTO had to cancel its holiday tour event. Turns out, many of the local businesses that would have participated in the tour were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. But this PTO dug its heels in and said that it would still hold a raffle, which has traditionally been part of this event.
If you hear of other stories about PTOs in need of help, please let us know. We posted an item on our message boards about the St. Rose PTO plight. The link is here. If anyone wants to share information about PTOs impacted by the hurricane, feel free to post about it here.
At St. Rose, the PTO was getting ready for its big fundraiser, an auction that was scheduled to take place four days after the storm hit. Most of the auction work was done, and then Sandy’s floods came, destroying the gift baskets that had been so carefully assembled.
News Photo of Belmar, N.J.
But something pretty amazing is happening now. The PTO reached out for help on social media channels and got a tremendous response. The group posted on our Facebook page and now many PTO leaders are offering to assist St. Rose’s PTO so it can hold its auction early next year.
Just another example of the kindness and generosity we so often see in this PTO community—you certainly have each other’s backs!
We were also reminded this week of how determined PTOs can be. Just the other day, we heard about a PTO in Point Pleasant, N.J., a community near St. Rose. In this case, the G. Harold Antrim Elementary PTO had to cancel its holiday tour event. Turns out, many of the local businesses that would have participated in the tour were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. But this PTO dug its heels in and said that it would still hold a raffle, which has traditionally been part of this event.
If you hear of other stories about PTOs in need of help, please let us know. We posted an item on our message boards about the St. Rose PTO plight. The link is here. If anyone wants to share information about PTOs impacted by the hurricane, feel free to post about it here.
