Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Schools greet fall season with fundraising festivals

By Michelle Alaimo

It's that time of year when a chill is in the air, leaves are changing color and many schools are beginning their pumpkin fests, harvest festivals and other fall fundraisers.

Some of the events serve as the first major fundraiser of the year and help raise thousands of dollars for the schools, while others serve as a way to bring parents, students and teachers together.

Many of schools' pumpkin fests hold silent auctions for which students have made theme baskets full of goodies to sell along with other donated items. While most events at Los Gatos schools help raise money to purchase items such as computers and playground equipment, the atmosphere is kept fun for the kids with lots of prizes and games.

Daves Avenue: Daves Avenue School is using its Harvest Dinner, on Oct. 30 from 5 to 8 p.m., to kill two birds with one stone. The school will serve a dinner prepared by Andale Taqueria to help students and parents get acquainted and reacquinted with school families and friends, and will also hold a coat, sweater, and blanket drive for the needy.

Karen Moultrup, organizer of the Harvest Dinner, came up with the idea after her older son, Jeremy, who attends Fisher Middle School, told her he needed to complete a community-service project for school. Moultrup and her son worked together to find a needy organization and chose the Georgia Travis Shelter in San Jose.

"I wanted to find someplace in need without going through all the red tape," Moultrup said. Her son is in charge of the coat drive for the shelter, and she is in charge of the Harvest Dinner, which will also feature a pumpkin-decorating contest.

Louise Van Meter: Louise Van Meter School will hold a pumpkin patch festival Oct. 24 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will feature games and food, along with a haunted hallway and a raffle. The school will also hold a silent auction, with all the proceeds going toward various items the school needs. Tickets for the event will be sold at the door.

Blossom Hill: Blossom Hill School will hold its annual Pumpkin Festival Oct. 24 from 5 to 9 p.m. in the school courtyard. Those attending the fundraiser can expect to find lots of things to do and see, including raffles, games, various booths and lots of food.

Loma Prieta: Nestled in the mountains overlooking the valley is Loma Prieta Elementary School, which will hold a Halloween Carnival on Oct. 25 from 4 to 9 p.m. in the school gym. The event, sponsored by the Home and School Club, will feature games, booths and more.

Lexington Elementary: Lexington's Home and School Club will hold a Harvest Festival and Country Fair Nov. 1 from noon to 2 p.m. On sale at the festival will be handcrafted items and packaged food specialties made by Lexington school families.

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