Keith Dmochowski: Schuylkill Haven High sees large turnout for annual PTO basket raffle

Mar. 29—The skies might have been cloudy, but the atmosphere inside the Schuylkill Haven High School gymnasium was bright and cheerful on a late March afternoon as the district kicked off its annual PTO Basket Raffle.

A crowd of dozens perused the gym shortly after the doors opened, some bantering with friends and family, others scanning intently through the raffle's nearly 700 baskets.

"The kids love it," said Nathan Sausser, who strolled the aisles with his son, Jakoby, a fourth-grader.

This year's raffle was the district's tenth but the first since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down large-scale events early in 2020.

"We did two smaller events, but having the big one back is what really helps with the district," said Melisa Donne, second vice president of the district's Parent Teacher Organization.

Friday's portion featured a four-hour "drop and shop," where attendees purchased tickets to drop in a raffle pool for the bag or prize of their choice.

Basket donations came from individuals and businesses throughout the community as well as organizations and classrooms within the school, said Natalie Mcculloch, an event volunteer and member of the PTO.

Sausser said his home improvement business, Sausser Contracting, donated a basket.

The baskets' prizes ranged widely, containing everything from appliances, cookware and household supplies to gift cards, toys, and games.

"There's always a basket, sort of like a Christmas one, I keep seeming to win that one," said Doris Kreiser, who said she comes to the raffle every year it's held.

Donne said district classrooms also put together larger baskets with common themes such as pets, reading, movie night or a day at the lake.

A Sony PlayStation, recliner, Oculus virtual reality headset, infinity game table and $400 Knoebels gift card were among the 13 grand prizes offered.

"It's funny because people here often times use the phrase 'It's okay if I spend too much, it's for a good cause,'" Donne said with a laugh.

Proceeds from the event will benefit every student in the district, Donne said, through funding of field trips, senior year books, "fun days," honors trips and more.

"It's just great to be able to give back to the district," Donne said, "especially with cutbacks to the district, we try to be there for the kids and make sure they get to do everything they want to do."

Mcculloch — mother to a Schuylkill Haven sixth grader — said volunteering with the raffle was her way of giving back to the district where she was born and raised.

"I bleed blue and gold," Mcculloch said, "I love Schuylkill Haven."

That spirit of service and community is shared by Kreiser, who said she baked cakes and brownies sold at the event.

Kreiser said she likes to assist her daughter, a member of the PTO working the event, and helps collect donations for raffles.

"I have a grandson that's in 10th grade," Kreiser said, "I just help them out whatever I can do."

The event ran until March 26, with raffle winners announced that afternoon. Donne estimated a total turnout of more than 1,000 people.

In a Facebook post after the event concluded, Donne noted that this year's raffle managed to raise $105,403 for the district — a record amount.