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the Lockport Legend | August 9, 2018 | 3
Rummage sale raises money for Taft extracurriculars
Rochelle McAuliffe
Freelance Reporter
Practicing fiscal responsibility
within school districts
isn’t anything new to
schools across the state, but
what happens when a school
still faces harsh budget cuts
despite responsible spending?
This has been the reality
at Taft School in District 90
for the last decade. Despite
careful planning and budgeting,
the single-school district
still faced the dismantling of
its extracurriculars nearly
five years ago. To fill in the
gaps, parents and teachers
had to get creative to help
give students the opportunities
they deserve.
Taft School hosted its third
annual rummage sale Friday,
Aug. 3, and Saturday, Aug.
4, to help benefit the Taft
Foundation, a nonprofit organization
that raises money
for the school through sponsorship
and events.
Whether it was gently used
clothing, appliances, gadgets
or even art, there was a hidden
gem for all who shopped
the sale, and it all went to a
worthwhile cause.
“We’re a smaller district
in D90, so we need more
funding to keep things going,”
said Janelle Stotler,
chairwoman of the rummage
sale. “Events like this
help to keep the Foundation
funded so they can continue
to run extracurricular programs.”
Taft School, first known
as South Lockport School,
opened in 1909 and has
since offered the residents
of southwest Lockport with
a quality education. During
the last decade, the burdens
of an aging building and
lack of support from corporate
sponsors has made
finances for opportunities
other Lockport students
have sparse.
To help bridge the gap,
the Taft Foundation was
founded in 2008 to fund
sports, music and extracurriculars,
and to provide
necessary equipment and
needed technology for Taft
students. In the last 10
years, the Foundation has
helped to raise more than
$100,000 for extracurricular
programs that would otherwise
go unfunded through
fundraisers and events.
“We worked our [rear
ends] off to get a referendum
passed, but the state
never came through with the
money,” said Nicole Lane,
Taft School PTA president
and newly appointed school
board member. “It was really
disappointing because we
thought we were all set. Every
single one of these kids
knows that if we don’t work
hard, they won’t have band.
They won’t have choir. They
won’t have sports, and a lot
of benefits and activities other
schools have. The parents
push hard and work hard to
give our kids what students
at other schools take for
granted.
“We have kids and parents
[who] volunteer together
here, and most of the time
we have alumni that come
back as well. It’s like a family.
The kids come to help
because they want to help.
We usually don’t have to ask
twice if we put the word out
for volunteers.”
Jessica Mueller and her
brother Max are just two of
many alumni who returned
to their former school to pay
it forward before beginning
the school year as freshmen
at Lockport Township High
School.
“I feel so great helping
with the rummage sale, because
this is still my school,”
Jessica Mueller said. “I’ve
Lockport resident Nolan Rafay, 5, checks out some toys Friday, Aug. 3, during the Taft
Foundation’s annual rummage sale held at Taft school. Photos by Mary Compton/22nd
Century Media
been here ever since I was
little and with school leave I
have so many memories of
all my friends and teachers. I
just want those memories to
continue on to the future generations
of students here.”
Averi Colella, a sixthgrader
who was volunteering
with her mother, participates
in basketball, softball,
band and theater. She said
Taft is “a wonderful school
that needs money.”
The feeling of pride in
their former school is what
drives former students to
carry on the school’s legacy.
“I’m a graduate here. I
have had seven nieces and
nephews that went to this
school, with two graduating.
My kids are here,” Lane
explained with tears in her
eyes. “My parents did it for
me. I’m passing on down
the line to my children. We
just do what we have to do.
It’s a big family here to raise
money for the kids.”
The Taft Foundation’s
Ninth Annual Golf Outing
at Big Run Golf Course is to
take place at 11 a.m. on Sept.
29. Participants can win
prizes for longest putt, longest
drive, closest to the pin
and 50/50. Those interested
in registering, sponsoring a
hole or making a donation
should visit TaftFoundation.
com.
Journey to a Better You
Owen McGraw from Lockport checks out clothes for back to school during the rummage
sale.
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