Wednesday, November 20, 2019 ~ LANGFORD
by Mary P Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
On a very rainy Saturday November 16, the craft fair in the gym at Ruth King Elementary School on Jacklin Road in central Langford raised funds for a range of activities and supplies.
Even though classrooms and overall education delivery is relatively well funded compared to several years ago — and school PACs in BC no longer have to raise money for playgrounds thanks to the BC NDP government — fundraising by parents continues for many other needs at the school level.
The booths were available to pop-up vendors at $35, raising about $1,400 (plus more from the food concession) for the Parents Advisory Council which uses the funds for school supplies, field trips, emergency preparedness, events and book fair vouchers.
About 600 people attended through the five-hour event, said Ruth King PAC fundraising coordinator Zoe Gray. She says the PAC also receives a donation from the Langford Legion.
Items for sale were the usual range of Christmas crafts and giftware (some of them hand crafted) as well as books, and commercial products like clothing and ornamental decor including by multi-level marketing vendors.
Most important, it was one of the first craft fairs of this Christmas 2019 season, setting the tone for fun and festivities to come.
Ruth King Elementary is one of 27 schools in Sooke School District 62 (SD62) which delivers public education to families in Langford, Colwood, Sooke, Highlands, Metchosin, Juan de Fuca (up to Port Renfrew) and parts of View Royal.