Hundreds of silent auction items for bidding, crafts and plants for sale, food, & kids’ activities
By Suzanne Misciagna, Staff Writer, The Times
More than 21 varieties of plants will be for sale, this Saturday at the annual Pocopson Elementary School Art & Garden sale.
POCOPSON – On Saturday, Pocopson Elementary School, in the Unionville Chadds-Ford School District, will kick off the spring season with its annual Art & Garden fundraising celebration.
This year’s family-focused event will be held rain or shine on Saturday, April 27 at Pocopson Elementary School, 1105 Pocopson Road in West Chester, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event kicks off with a Fun Run at 9:30 a.m. at Pocopson Elementary School. The 1/4 mile run circling the school is for children ages Kindergarten through second grade. A more challenging one mile run on the school’s nature trail will begin at 9:45 a.m. for kids third through fifth grade and older. Register online for the Fun Run at www.pesartgarden.org or on the day of the event.
This year’s Art & Garden celebration boasts a record number of silent auction items valued at $17,000.
The fun continues with carnival games and craft activities for kids of all ages. By simply purchasing a wristband for only $5, kids can participate in a host of indoor and outdoor activities such as three-legged races, a football throw, tug of war, a bean bag toss, as well as paper and painting crafts.
Two new activities will be unveiled this year. ATA Martial Arts in West Chester will be on-site providing hands-on karate demonstrations. For kids, and adults alike, a caricature artist will also be on hand to create unique caricature portraits.
One of the highlights of Art & Garden is the silent auction. This year’s selection of silent auction items will not disappoint.
“We have a record number of high quality silent auction items this year,” says Darragh Young, Art & Garden Co-Chair.
Approximately 200 silent auction items, donated by local merchants and artists, valued at $17,000, will be available for bidding.
Plenty of kids’ crafts, games, and activities are planned for Art & Garden.
Coveted items include a Virginia History Tour package which includes tickets to the Jamestown Settlement/Yorktown Victory Center, Colonial Williamsburg, Berkeley Plantation, and James Madison’s Montpelier estate, the Nauticus Museum in Norfolk and the Virginia Living Museum in Norfolk. Others include four one-day Park Hopper Passes to Disney World and a Washington, D.C. Tour package including a VIP tour of the Capitol Building, Senate and House gallery passes, a tour of the Library of Congress, a tour of the Pentagon, a tour of The Kennedy Center, reservations to the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, and reservations to the Senator’s only dining room.
Each year, Pocopson Elementary teachers and students add to the array of silent auction items by creating one-of-a-kind works of art ranging from painted furniture to themed gift baskets.
Bidding for silent auction items begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m.
In addition to silent auction items, experienced craft vendors, and students alike, will sell their creations at craft tables during Art & Garden.
For those with a green thumb, a large selection of plants will be for sale – just in time for spring planting or for Mother’s Day gift-giving.
“We have 21 different varieties of plants for sale,” says Young. This variety is more than what we’ve offered in the past and includes the addition of combination planters for sale this year along with the ever popular hanging plant baskets,” Young adds.
A variety of food items will be available too including a selection of healthy lunch options along with other goodies such as ice cream, baked goods, hot dogs, and pizza.
All proceeds from Art & Garden go directly to Pocopson Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). The PTO supports students by funding student educational assemblies, before and after school academic enrichment programs, athletic activities, classroom supplements, and family social events. Pocopson’s PTO is also proud to support the ‘Kind Fund’ which helps to support economically disadvantaged children within our school.
For more information on Art & Garden, including Fun Run race information, a listing of silent auction items, and plants for sale, visit www.pesartgarden.org.
