Bobtail Nursery’s spring Mother’s Day 2021 school fundraiser has been a success. Order forms were due near the end of March and delivery will be between May 1 and 5 to participating schools.
This year, local schools Ponoka Elementary School (PES), St. Augustine School and Ponoka Christian School took part, as well as Iron Ridge in Blackfalds, for the first time.
On offer were hanging baskets, patio planters, succulents, tomato and strawberry hanging baskets, potted veggies and mosquito repelling planters. The nursery creates the order form and a per centage of the total orders placed from each school goes towards that’s school’s fundraising needs.
Family and friends of one particular St. Augustine student got behind the fundraiser as a good cause, as the proceeds this year are going towards a new playground.
Aleah Morrow-Winter, 8, in Grade 3 at St. Augustine, placed a total of $3,683 in orders — a portion of which will go to her school.
Order forms were taken to her parents’ work places, and other family placed orders — one aunt in Pine Lake placed an order for over $800.
Aleah’s family says she is an avid gardener, and she received a gift card from her school for her efforts.
St. Augustine’s website says the school’s red playground is over 30 years old and in need of replacement. The goal is to be able to raise the $250,000 needed for the new playground by spring 2023.
PES has been participating in the annual fundraiser for at least eight years, says Angie Taylor, PES Council Society chair.
The school raised $2,300 this year. The proceeds will go into a general fund, which the society uses for a variety of school projects and different opportunities.
Previously, the fund has been used to sponsor the Artist in Residency program, and paid for new jerseys last year, and pre-COVID, covered activities such as pancake breakfasts, ski trips, hot lunch sponsorships and information nights.
Ponoka Christian School now has enough to finish a sidewalk project, thanks to the Bobtail Nursery fundraiser.
A sidewalk will be installed that will connect the K-2 door to the existing sidewalk.
The fundraiser brought in $2,407, according to board member Lori Morskate who is on the development committee.
That money added to what was raised through a fundraiser earlier in the year means the school will be able to break ground in the new sidewalk this spring or summer.
Orders are to be picked up directly from Bobtail Nursery due to COVID-19. Any orders left on the last day will be delivered to their respective schools.