Myriad of gift packages, goodies attract basketball fans

    Last year, 5th graders at Chase County Schools wanted to do something for the many young people their age who lost homes in the December 2021 Colorado fires in Superior, Lafayette and Louisville.
    Their 2022 gift basket fundraiser was so successful—they raised $2,000—5th and 6th graders combined efforts for a similar project this year.
    At Saturday’s home basketball games, fans had a choice of 58 items on which to place raffle tickets or submit a silent auction bid.
    Items ranged from plates of Valentine-themed cookies and cakes to a cooler filled with summer toys, the latter bringing in the most individual dollars, said middle school math teacher Darcie Boman.
    Families of grade 5-6 students provided the raffle/auction items, Boman said, which raised $1,600 alone.
    In addition, the classes provided manpower for the concession stand during Saturday’s games.
    Boman said they plan to add their concession proceeds with the $1,600, with a hopeful total of near $3,000.
    “We haven’t decided on what/where we are donating the money this year, but we do know that we want to keep it local this year,” she said.
    In the next few weeks, they will be checking with different organizations and then vote on where the funds will be donated.
    Possibilities students have already talked about include SCORE camp, the library, softball/baseball program, Christmas Giving Tree and Imperial Community Foundation.
    It’s possible funds would be split up and given to more than one organization, she added.
    “It’s so important to teach kids how to do things and give to others and also give back to their own community,” Boman said.
    The organizers had no problems getting enough help to work the concession stand or contribute to the raffle, she noted.
    “The kids and parents were so willing to help out,” she said.
    The $2,000 raised last year was given to a school affected by the Colorado fires. Their funds purchased 35 bookbags full of books and supplies for students in a Boulder County Colorado school district.