PTO Plans Third Annual Mum Sale

Two years ago, when Paradise Elementary School PTO held its first mum sale, the group purchased 100 plants to sell. In 2020, the group increased that number to 250 and sold them all. This year, the PTO plans to purchase 300 mums in a variety of colors. "We will have burgundy, red, orange, yellow, purple, and white," said PTO president Christy Fieldsa.

The third Paradise Elementary School PTO mum sale will take place on Friday, Oct. 1, from 4 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 2, from 9 to 11 a.m. Plants will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Mums will be sold at two locations along Route 30. One will be the semi-circle driveway in the front of The Factory Ministries at the Together Community Center, 3293 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise. The second location is a lot adjacent to the pond at the Paradise Township Building, 2 Township Drive, Paradise.

PTO vice president Katie Knaub encouraged those wishing to purchase flowers to come early to obtain the colors they are looking for. Fieldsa noted that many customers have a color preference based on the hues of their house or landscape design, so sale organizers work hard to provide a number of colors from which to choose. The plants will be tagged with the name of the color and in pots and ready to plant.

The PTO sets a nominal price for the plants and makes just under $2 on each pot it sells. The group is hoping to raise more than $500 from this year's sale. Funds will be used to help cover the costs of classroom supplies, field trips, and family fun nights, which are offered free of charge to the families. Fun nights might include movies and hot cocoa, crafts, or roller skating.

Other Paradise Elementary PTO officers include secretary Shanon Passmore and treasurer Krystle Shaffer. Readers who would like to know more about PTO activities may visit http://www.pequeavalley.org and click on "PTO" on the "Parents & Families" tab under "Paradise Elementary."