Community Hours Add Up to Nearly $500,000 for Chatham County Schools

At Chatham Education Foundation, we believe strong schools are built by strong communities—and the Chatham PTA Thrift Shop is one of our favorite examples of that spirit in action.

At its Sept. 28 Board meeting and annual check distribution, the PTA Thrift Shop presented Chatham County Schools PTAs with nearly $500,000, representing thousands of volunteer hours contributed over the past year.

What makes the Thrift Shop model so special is that the entire community can be part of it. Students, parents, school staff, and community members volunteer during school work sessions or individually during regular store hours, earning money for the school of their choice. You don't have to have a child in Chatham County Schools to help.

This year, the PTA Thrift Shop distributed $497,192.50 to school PTAs, with individual schools receiving between $13,642.40 and $50,899.86. Northwood High School received the largest distribution.

Each year, the September meeting rotates among Chatham County schools, and this year it was held at Chatham Central High School. Dinner was prepared and served by Mr. Everett Goldston and Bear Claws Catering, Chatham Central's student culinary program—giving guests a taste of another way our schools are preparing students for what comes next. 

PTAs have flexibility in how they use their Thrift Shop funds, as long as they benefit students. Here’s a sampling of what schools funded this past year:

Pittsboro Elementary — a new playground
Seaforth High School — two-day freshman orientation
Virginia Cross Elementary — summer bash for students
Bonlee School — new planting area outside the school 

Read the Chatham County Schools press release.

Want to learn more about how donated items, volunteer hours, and thrift-store finds turn into funding for Chatham County Schools? Read our earlier story, Turning Thrift into Treasure: How the Chatham PTA Thrift Shop Supports Chatham County Schools.