What Is School Food Drive and Raffles?

I think it's wonderful that you ask so many questions!

For the food drive, the schools usually collect items to give to the local food banks. This is a place, usually run by churches, that help distribute food to families or elderly people who have a hard time paying for it.

For the Theme basket, this is a fundraiser for the school. The way our school does it, each class picks a theme, and the parents send items that go with that theme. Someone packs it into a pretty basket (or box), and at some sort of school event, the baskets are displayed, and people can by raffle tickets to try to win them (maybe if this is for the teachers, then the teachers will be buying the raffle tickets?). Because the baskets are all donated, the money to buy the raffle tickets all goes back to the school. If your teacher has asked for "Winter Themed" things, that must be your class' theme - so just anything you can think of that has to do with winter time. Maybe a scarf or some hot chocolate, or some nice coffee mugs?

Thanksgiving is mostly a time to acknowledge what you have and are grateful for. It's a reminder of things we DO have, instead of what we don't. It's part of the reason the food drives are popular this time of year. You don't necessarily have to hug anyone, but wishing someone a Happy Thanksgiving is nice. It's a nice time to tell the people you love that you are thankful to have them in your life, too.

Amanda did a great job. I just wanted to add -- Please do not be ashamed to keep asking people at school! It is wonderful that you are interested and want to be involved and knowledgeable about the culture and traditions all around you. If you don't already have some mom friends from among the families at school, try to make some by joining PTA, volunteering at events, and so on. Knowing some parents will really help you figure things out. Keep on asking questions and never feel ashamed -- you are not expected to know all these things, and your interest shows that you really care. Happy (early) Thanksgiving to you and your family!

I wanted to throw in that - yes, there are MANY events put on by the schools here and it can be very overwhelming, but just remember that you are not obligated to participate in all the fundraisers and activities. Do what you are able. On one hand, the schools really do depend on the fundraisers (for example. our principle explained that the elementary school receives $800 per year for field trips but it cost something around $300.00 per grade to go on 1 field trip for the cost of buses and admission. Fundraising is essential for the school to do more than the bare minimum). So I try to donate and participate when I can, but if I attended everything our school puts on, I would be flat broke!

Amanda gave you a really good explanation. If you really want to see how the baskets are done, you can ask the room mother if she knows who is in charge of putting the baskets together. Then you could ask if you could see how they do it. Just don't volunteer to be "in charge" of anything. When you don't know what you are doing, you don't want to be in charge. Sometimes people don't "listen" when you say you only want to help. They sometimes try to give you the job and then they walk away. Don't let that happen.

The nice thing about having so many children in one class is that they can have plenty of things to put together to make the baskets. I think you would have fun seeing how the ladies do it.

Dawn

Amanda gave you a great explanation, and I just want to say don't feel bad for not knowing. I grew up in this country and I was still completely lost last year when my son started school. I had no idea what the baskets were, and I couldn't believe how many fundraisers that the school does each year. Now that it's his second year in school, it's a little easier!