Millville school carnival keeps kids from fundraising door to door

By Holly Adams

September 23, 2005 | MILLVILLE -- Rainy weather couldn't keep Millville Elementary students from attending the PTA's outdoor fundraising carnival Wednesday night.

"We have such a great community, as you can see, everyone came out even in the bad weather," Millville Elementary's PTA fundraising chairman, Ruthetta Barnett, said.

The PTA was low on funds this year and decided to do something fun and safe to raise the money needed to provide activities for the school. Barnett said they didn't want the kids selling door-to-door, and parents were worried about the kids' safety.

"If they come here they are spending about the same amount of money without the safety issue," Barnett said.

The kids at the carnival were able to participate in several activities including a dunk tank, sponge toss, climbing wall and a bounce house.

"I liked the sponge toss," said Zackary Black, a fifth grader at Millville Elementary. "I sat down and got hit in the face with a sponge."

The PTA was able to get prizes for a silent auction and cash donations from local sponsors to rent the equipment, PTA President Michelle Hill said.

The money collected at the carnival will be used by the PTA for various activities throughout the year. Some of those activities are Reflections, vision screening, Red Ribbon Week, several safety weeks, and services for the reading program, Hill said.

Tori Nyman, a kindergartener, said the carnival was a lot of fun. "I went through the maze and went to get popcorn."

Barnett said 410 students attend Millville Elementary and approximately 350 attended the carnival.

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