Dickson Elementary PTO Holds Plant Sale Fundraiser

The Dickson Elementary Parent Teacher Organization is holding its first-ever plant sale fundraiser to raise money that will go towards field trips and more for local students.

Organized by parent Patty Lampenfeld and fifth grade teacher Carol Groat, the sale will be held in front of Dickson Elementary school in Swissvale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday.

Parents already have ordered plants through the school’s movie night event, while Lampenfeld also sold some during Swissvale’s Clean Up Day last weekend.

Groat said Al Henkel, who has a greenhouse in Turtle Creek, partnered with the PTO to make this year’s fundraiser a reality.

“He is awesome. He is very, very nice and is helping us in every way he can,” Groat said. “He is so easy to work with and his plants are gorgeous.

The women said he is giving them a great deal on the plants so they will be able to make more money for the field trip funds.

“He is going to let us bring back whatever we don’t sell,” Lempenfeld said. “And he is giving us wonderful prices. Seeing that it’s our first year, we weren’t sure how much to buy or what the response will be.”

Groat originally came up with the idea for the plant sale.

“I love to do fundraising – I am always thinking of ideas and ways to increase involvement and the teachers are always involved,” she said. “I just love to raise money for the school so PTO can help us.”

Lampenfeld said she loved the idea.

“We needed something new, too,” she said.

With all new officers on PTO at Dickson this year, Groat also said it’s great for a new beginning.

The pair advertised around the community and at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, where they had their signs and fliers made for under $100.

“It’s just good community,” Groat said. “Parents are going to be here helping out this weekend, a teacher made up the flier and others will be helping to pick up the flowers. Everybody is helping out wherever they can.”

The students will benefit from the fundraiser as all of their field trips are paid for by the PTO. Students recently went on trips to the Pittsburgh Folk Festival in Monroeville, the aviary and the Carnegie Science Center.

“I am looking forward to good weather,” Groat said with a smile.