Late January the Vine Hill elementary PTA announced an online auction beginning Feb. 5 and continuing until the PTA’s first-ever virtual live auction on Feb. 20, hosted by Robert Aldana, Bobbie Ward and Garvin Thomas.
These two events form a part of the PTA’s fundraisers for the upcoming school year, 2021-2022.
“In a year like 2020, we know that the community has already greatly suffered and donated everything they possibly could due to the pandemic, fires, and mudslides,” Seana Sullivan, the Vine Hill PTA vice-president of fundraising and auction co-chair, said. “We have friends who have lost their homes and know many who have lost jobs. It’s been a really hard year and we completely understand what people are going through as members of the community. But, as members of the PTA, we want to make sure that our kids can have a consistent experience at school, as much as possible. Our teachers continue to need our support and if we don’t ask for help, we won’t get it.”
Funds raised from the auction will go to many causes, such as teachers’ aids, yard duties, the Life Lab, art and music programs.
“We don’t know how the school will need our support, but we want to keep extra programs for our students and cover for unexpected needs, like scholarships for science camp or P.E. equipment,” Cheryl Ruyle, Vine Hill PTA secretary and auction co-chair, said. “All we know for certain about next year is that there will be extra needs and without our fundraisers we won’t be able help. We know the community has been absolutely ravaged this year. We absolutely understand, but are trying to do everything we can to create a healthy fund for next year.”
Ruyle said that even though Scotts Valley is not an economically disadvantaged community, the school district is the sixth-lowest funded in the state.
“We rely heavily on community support through various fundraisers at Vine Hill,” she said.
PTA members are particularly hard pressed as another historically popular fundraiser has fallen short. The direct donation fund fell $25,000 short of its already amended goal. The PTA still needs to raise $90,000 more for the upcoming school year. Both Ruyle and Sullivan have high hopes for both auctions, hoping to raise $20,000 online and $30,000 during the live event.
Many local businesses will sponsor the event, including Allegri Electric, Scotts Valley Market, Otoro, Midtown Surf, Freemie, Wickum Group, Postal Annex, Coastal Evergreen, Nexus Wealth Advisors, Mathnasium, Elemental Design, Expressive Learning, Clean Space Cleaning, Anderson Christie Real Estate, Kasey & Brook Hinchman Real Estate, and Robert Aldana Real Estate.
Amongst online auction items are spa treatments, birthday packages, gift certificates, and many other local services and goods.
The live event will auction off vacations, glamping, the chance to become mayor for the day, and a Scotts Valley Fire Department birthday drive-by. Additionally, any donor throughout the live auction will be immediately entered in a raffle for a 55-inch Roku Television.
Visit vinehillauction.com to learn more about the auctions and Tune into the live event Feb. 20 on the My Scotts Valley Facebook page. If your business would like to donate items to the auction, email vi*********@gm***.com.
