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The Santa's Shop Penguin Patch has returned this year to Thompson Falls Elementary, thanks to the Thompson Falls Parent Teacher organization (PTO). According to event organizers, this allows students an opportunity to learn to budget money and purchase gifts for themselves and family members for Christmas.

The event was organized and run by PTO members Lisa Ruen, Donna Hendrickson, Deedee Susic, Danni Brotherton and Alysha Franck. "It's a very small group of parents and we do a lot," said PTO secretary and treasurer Ruen. The Santa's Shop event dates back a number of years but, according to Ruen, the event faded away because it wasn't held for several years and then was missed again because of the pandemic. Ruen and other PTO volunteers went to school in Thompson Falls as kids themselves, and remembered the event and decided to bring it back for their kids.

During the Santa's Shop preparation period, each student was sent home with a small envelope and a list of people the student may want to purchase a present for. Their parents gave them money and helped them fill out their Christmas shopping list. Students then went to the "Penguin Patch Holiday Shop" in the P.E. building to look at tables full of small toys and gifts. There, PTO volunteers helped them fill their shopping lists. "The kids love it! Everybody who comes in leaves with something," said PTO volunteer Franck. Along with purchasable items, there were also free gifts students could draw out of a box. The students were able to visit the shop December 14 through 16, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and spend between $0.25 and $12.

The PTO organization has five members and hosts numerous events throughout the year for the elementary school, including the upcoming "Doughnuts for Dads" and "Muffins for Moms." These two events will be held January 12 and February 16 and allow dads (for the first) and moms (for the second), to come into the school and have breakfast with their kids, with free doughnuts or muffins provided, respectively.

The organization also arranges Popcorn Fridays once a month, as well as Blue Hawk Bucks, the latter of which the ladies explained is the students' favorite. This program allows the children to get rewarded for good behavior throughout the year. Each time students are recognized, they are given a "buck" which they can turn in as an entry for a chance to be drawn to choose a prize from a display case near the front desk. Before Christmas break, 60 student names are chosen and called up front in groups of 10 to pick out their prizes. The drawings will occur at 2 p.m. December 21.

PTO worked to put on the Santa's Shop event through a business called Jenny's Penguin Patch Kid's Holiday Shop, which takes orders dependent on the number of kids. PTO then orders the toy kits and "anything we don't sell gets sent back, so we're not out any money," said Ruen. Though the event can potentially make a lot of money(they made over $750 during the first day of the event this year), PTO only keeps about 20% of the profits.

According to the ladies, the community is the biggest contributor of donations to PTO. "The town helps a lot," said Franck. The group has received donations from many local parents and businesses including Thompson River Lumber and Doug's True Value. Ruen said the group is always looking for help from volunteers and donations to assist them put on these events for the kids. All the money in donations and earnings goes back into the events and purchasing prizes for programs like Santa's Shop and Blue Hawk Bucks.

The group can be found on Facebook under the name: Thompson Falls PTO Bluehawks. They also have announcements released through the school website and on the school's calendar. PTO meets several times a year, gathering more during times of the year when there are more events. They meet at the Elementary Library and welcome all community members. When asked why they participate, Susic said, "We're involved in everything for our kids," and Franck added, "We do things for kids who don't have opportunities. It just gives them something to do."