$55,000 is FMS fund goal
Farragut Middle School Parent Teacher Organization is cutting right to the chase with its spring fundraiser.
After much discussion, organizers decided to simply ask parents and businesses for donations — no volunteering, no purchasing unnecessary items and no overhead costs.
“We won’t be asking them to sell door-to-door or spending hours upon hours volunteering,” PTO fundraising co-chair Pamela Milliken said. “We are simply telling (the community) just what we need.
“And, 100 percent of all money raised will go straight to the school.”
The fund-raising goal is $55,000, which already is earmarked for additional Chromebooks, an updated library circulation desk, 14 additional water bottle stations, $100 in credit for teachers’ classroom needs and monetary donations to related arts departments.
PTO President Mary Cook said the group met with teachers and administrators to determine specific school needs and work out a “wish list.”
“For example, the library’s circulation desk is about 50 years old — it had come from the old middle school,” Milliken said. “It just doesn’t have enough room to process all the kids (who are checking out books).”
“We also want to get about 100 Chromebooks,” Cook said. “We just don’t have enough for the needs of the school.”
The water bottle stations would be in addition to the four already located at the middle school. “It prevents kids from putting their mouths on faucets, and will hopefully cut down on illness,” Millikan said.
A letter went out to FMS parents earlier this week with specific details. The PTO encourages businesses to reach out and obtain information on corporate incentives, which will include the ability to speak with parents at future events, Milliken said.
As a further incentive, classrooms raising upward of $2,000 will be in the running to potentially receive pizza parties, free lunches or taking a break from homework.
The fundraiser is ongoing through Tuesday, March 5.
For more information or to make donations, e-mail Milliken at Pamela@themillikens.com or visit https://battle-of-the-pods-fundraiser.cheddarup.com
