Co-op Preschool Auction This Saturday...BYOB Luau at the Sportsmen's Club!

Three-year old Co-op Preschool students pose with two quilts made by teacher Katie Marsh and her mother. The quilts, which include the kids handprints as well as embroidered pictures the kids drew on the backs, will both be up for auction on Saturday. Photo credit: Liz Marry

The Manchester Co-op Preschool, which is celebrating it’s 50th year as a Manchester institution, will hold it’s annual auction on Saturday, April 26th at the Manchester Sportsmen’s Club on Grossman Road. This year’s theme is Hawaiian luau. Doors will open at 6pm and the live auction will start at 7pm. Cash and check will be accepted. There is no charge for admission. Pizza, hot dogs, chips, snacks, pop and water will be available and attendees are encouraged to BYOB. The event is adults only.

In addition to the live auction, the event includes a raffle for large items including an iPad and TaylorMade driver, large silent auction, 50/50 raffle and box raffle. Auction items include a Toledo Zoo family membership, a stay in a Chelsea Comfort Inn Jacuzzi Suite, ER Lawn Service face cord of wood, brewery gift certificates, a $100 Merkel’s gift card, luggage, pillow loungers, and John Deere toys for kids. The Co-op is still assembling auction and box raffle items, too numerous to count.

Commenting on the large number of local donations, Dan Budd, Co-op Preschool Fundraising Chair, states “We are fortunate that most local businesses help with this event. Our large raffle items (iPad and Driver) were donated to us by the Men's Club.”

The Co-op preschool is small and tuition does not cover all of the operating expenses. About 80% of the preschool’s budget comes from this one event. In the past, the fundraiser has raised between $8,000 and $16,000. Budd states “It is really a fun night that benefits a great group of kids as well as two great teachers. It's an exciting event that people really enjoy, and attend year after year.”

Katie Marsh, one of the two teachers, explains the importance of the Co-op Preschool in our community, “The Coop offers a unique opportunity for every member to become involved in a caring network of families within our community to support their child's preschool experience. It offers the opportunity for families to grow together.”

In recent years, turnout has ranged from 80 to 120 people. According to Budd, they are hoping for more than 100 this year. If you can’t attend the event but would like to contribute, you can buy a $5 raffle ticket from any Co-op family or consider attending the May 25th Tiger’s Bus trip fundraiser.

If you have questions about the event, would like to donate something for the auction or are interested in the Tigers Bus trip, contact Dan Budd at 517-581-5683 or lake_effect_d@yahoo.com. Auction donations can also be dropped off at the preschool classroom located at 410 City Road, M-F between 8:30am and noon.

 The Co-op Preschool has been around Manchester for 50 years, offering an opportunity for parents to participate in their child's preschool education and for children to become involved in the community through rich and diverse experiences, inside and outside the classroom. The Co-op offers NAEYC curriculum standards and kindergarten readiness in their Four Year old and new Young 5's program coming in the 2014/2015 school year. If you have questions about the preschool program visit manchestercooppreschool.org or call 734-428-1684. If you have questions about the new Young 5’s program contact Katie Marsh at marshcarpentry@att.net.

For as little as $1 a month, you can keep Manchester-focused news coverage alive.

by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.