Shop This Idea! Teacher Appreciation Treat Trolleys

Called “treat trolleys” and “woot woot wagons,” these little four-wheeled carts of happiness are a simple way for your PTO to surprise teachers with a midday treat. Once the Brookwood Elementary PTO in Enterprise, Ala., got on the treat trolley train, they never looked back. In fact, they do a treat trolley each month for their teachers!

Led by copresidents Whitney Jones Marler and Kayla Bomhard, the PTO hopped on the treat trolley train in 2021 to bring a little comfort and joy to teachers during the pandemic, and the idea just stuck. (It’s safe to say teachers like their snacks!) Now, each month’s cart features a different theme and smorgasbord of treats. PTO goals, right?

Below, we round up a few popular treat trolley themes from the Brookwood Elementary PTO, along with a shoppable list of the supplies, décor, and printable signs (Canva templates) you’ll need to recreate them.

@ptotoday Teacher Trolley Goals 👏 📸 Brookwood Elementary PTO in Enterprise, Alabama #teacherappreciation #ptomomsoftiktok #ptopresident #PTOlife #treattrolley ♬ son original - Whoxver

 

First: The treat trolley!

This plastic cart on wheels has three shelves, comes in a variety of colors, and runs around $100.

BUY (WEBSTAURANT)

Photo credit: Brooke Martin at Locust Grove (Va.) Primary School PTA

“Thank you for covering all the bases” treat trolley theme

What you’ll need:

• “Thank you for covering all the bases” sign (Canva template)

• Giant soft pretzels

• Water bottles and tin beverage tub

• Candy bars

• Jar of pickles

• Jar of hot peppers

• Bowl of peanuts and serving scoop

• Basket of tortilla chips

• Slow cooker with nacho cheese (if you want homemade, check out this recipe)

• Baseball food trays

• Baseballs for decor

“School is a picnic with teachers like you” treat trolley theme

What you’ll need:

• “School is a picnic with teachers like you” sign (Canva template)

• Premade deli subs (cut in half)

• Pasta salad (in cups) with individual spoons

• Jar of pickles

• Potato chips

• Tray of cookies

• Gummy butterflies

• Soda cans

• Red and white gingham paper plates

• Red and blue gingham vinyl pennant banner

• Ant shape clip art for Cricut

“We’re calling a TIME OUT to say thank you for all you do” popcorn treat trolley theme

What you’ll need:

• “We’re calling a TIME OUT to say thank you for all you do” sign (Canva template)

• Basket of popcorn

• Popcorn scoop

• Paper food trays

• Container of M&Ms

• Chocolate sauce and sea salt caramel sauce (squeeze bottles)

• Popcorn spray

• Football pennant banner

• Football paper plates

• Battery-powered globe lights

• Various mix-ins, like Reese’s Pieces, white chocolate chips, mini peanut butter cups, crushed Oreos, and peanuts

• (Optional) football-theme cookies

“We know you’re pooped! Only a few more weeks of school” treat trolley theme

What you’ll need:

• “We know you’re pooped! Only a few more weeks of school” sign

• Chocolate frosted cupcakes

• Candy googly eyes

• White paper plates

• Heavy-duty clear plastic cups

• Toilet paper rolls

• Fruit salad (apple slices and grapes)

• “Let’s roll” sign

• “Don’t forget to flush” sign

• 2-tier cupcake stand

• Glass double drink dispenser with stand (fill with beverage of choice)

“Any way you slice it, we are very grateful for you!” pizza treat trolley theme

What you’ll need:

• “Any way you slice it, we are very grateful for you! Thank you so much for making our school amazing!” sign (Canva template)

• Pizza slices (calculate how many you’ll need with our handy pizza calculator)

• Red gingham napkins

• Red paper plates

• Red gingham paper serving tray

• Soda cans

• Water bottles

• Grab-and-go treats, like brownies and cookies

• Treat cups (in red and green)

• 2-tier treat stand

• Red wood bead garland

And, because we totally “believe” in the power of a Ted Lasso teacher appreciation treat trolley theme...

...We’ve put together a few snack, drink, and decoration ideas below!

Photo credit: Highlands Middle School PTSO in Fort Thomas, KY

• “Believe” sign

• UK flag pennant banner

• Iced tea or bottled root beer (Ted’s “brown water”)

• Gallon glass jar drink dispenser

• Red-and-white-striped paper straws

• UK flag paper plates and cups

• Life-size Ted Lasso cardboard cutout (adhere to the back side of cart, so it looks like Ted himself is serving the goodies!)

• AFC Richmond flag

• Chocolate soccer balls

• Shortbread biscuits (if you want homemade, check out this recipe)

• Pink biscuit boxes

• Goldfish crackers (display in a large plastic food safe fishbowl with serving scoop)

• Pub cheese

• Crackers

• “Be a goldfish” framed art

• Ice cream sandwiches and inflatable cooler (display alongside a Ted Lasso meme featuring this quote: “Ice cream is the best. It’s kinda like seeing Billy Joel perform live. Never disappoints.”

• Whistles or stick-on Ted Lasso mustaches to pass out to teachers

• Looking for a saying to print on a sign? 

“For me, success is not about the wins and losses. It’s about helping these young fellas be the best versions of themselves...and it ain’t always easy, but neither is growing up without someone believing in you.” —Ted Lasso

“Teachers like you have “Lassoed” our hearts. Thanks for being amazing!”