Pollard Middle School students pose with their finds after a work session.
Did you know that the Chatham PTA Thrift Shop is Chatham County’s largest public-school fundraiser? It’s true. Last year, the PTA Thrift Shop distributed $611,787.19 to Chatham County Schools. Schools received a portion of the funds based on volunteer hours worked at the three PTA Thrift Shop locations—one in Village Plaza (also known as Cole Park), one in Pittsboro, and one in Siler City.
Schools earn most of their volunteer hours through work sessions—after-hours work groups in which student and parent volunteers straighten the store for the next business day and hang clothes. Students aged 12 and up can volunteer on their own and students aged 10 and 11 can volunteer along with a parent.
In elementary school, such as at Chatham Grove Elementary, it’s mostly parents that work the sessions, and most hours are designated to specific teachers. That said, each school determines how hours are allocated. In middle and high schools, for example, most hours are designated to a club or sports team. At Seaforth High School, volunteers, mostly students, earn $5 an hour for any entity of their choice. And that adds up, as each work session can have up to 14 volunteers, and sessions are 2 to 2.5 hours each.
Depending on the PTA Thrift Shop’s overall profits for the year, schools make an average of $20 an hour. That means that even after clubs and teachers earn money, there’s still a lot left over for the PTAs. Seaforth High School, which received $39,922.55 from the PTA Thrift Shop last year, used some of their money to purchase math textbooks, planners for 9th grade students, scientific calculators, fees for extracurricular conferences for clubs, and teacher treats.
Pollard Middle School earned $31,208.46 last year and used some of their money to provide each teacher with a $250 grant to purchase materials for their classrooms, update the Teachers’ Workroom shared space, establish and stock a Counselor’s Closet that provides toiletries and clothing to students in need, and increase literacy offerings in classrooms and the media center.
Chatham Grove, which received $17,402.83 last year, used a portion of their earnings to give teachers gift cards to purchase classroom materials and also purchased a book vending machine in which students can earn tokens to choose books.
As you can see, money earned by schools at the Chatham PTA Thrift Shop makes a huge difference in the education of our county’s students. But it’s important to note that the PTA Thrift Shop relies heavily on volunteers—not just students and parents at schools but also on community volunteers—to keep costs low, so more money goes back to the schools. While community volunteers can attend any school’s work session (sign ups are found on each school’s PTA/PTSA page), there’s also a great need for daytime volunteers to help sort the constant stream of donations, as well as sort clothing (decide what’s fit to be sold and what should go to salvage). And if you’re an expert on something, such as fixing electronics, the PTA Thrift Shop can put your skills to work.
In addition to volunteering, the PTA Thrift Shop also needs community members to donate gently used items* and, of course, shop for all of the one-of-a-kind deals! The more donations the PTA Thrift Shop receives, the more there is to shop, the more money goes to benefit Chatham County Schools and their students!
* Please consider that the PTA Thrift Shop ONLY accepts flat screen TVs and working appliances. The PTA Thrift Shop DOES NOT accept mattresses, box springs, sleeper sofas, car seats, or weapons. You may arrange to have large items picked up for $20. Call 910.585.2131. Tax receipts are available.
For questions about volunteering at the PTA Thrift Shop, email chathamptathriftboard@gmail.com.