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Pied Piper holiday sale kicks off Monday

News Photo by Julie Goldberg Pied Piper School students Brandon Merchant and James Walsh work on wreaths on Wednesday for the school’s annual holiday sale that starts next week.

ALPENA — Pied Piper School is once again hosting its annual holiday sale with homemade items that are perfect for any Christmas gift.

The sale, which runs Monday to Dec. 21, will raise money toward the school’s vocational program and its greenhouse fund. There will be white, red, and pink poinsettias, cards, gift tags, and plain and decorated wreaths for sale.

The sale runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays when school is in session.

Teacher Janis Sahr said students have been working on crafts since the beginning of the school year and the poinsettias and wreaths this month.

“We sell out fast,” Sahr said of the sale.

People who want to attend the sale can go directly to the school’s greenhouse. Students will ring up customers and help carry purchased items to vehicles.

Sahr said it will take a while for people when they come and purchase items, since the sale is student-driven. She said people will receive high-quality service, but will spend a little more time there. The students will also help customers pick out items.

“That’s why people come back every year,” Sahr said. “They see student growth.”

Sahr said the sale is heavily supported by the community. She said there are some orders that students will help deliver to local businesses.

“We have the same customers that come back every year, so we are heavily supported by parents, but also by the community,” Sahr said.

The severely cognitively impaired students made the gift tags and cards, and they helped make all the crafts.

“All the students are involved in some of the making of the crafts, so we kind of take it at their ability level,” Sahr said.

The poinsettias range from $12 to $23, the wreaths are $14 to $18, and the gift tags and cards range in prices. The students run the cash register, fill out the order slips, and deliver to customer’s cars.

“There’s something for everybody.” Sahr said. “There’s ornaments, vases, shelves, and Christmas signs.”

The students’ favorite part of the sale is selling their crafts and being able to show people what they did, Sahr said. She said the students take pride in their work.

Student James Walsh said his favorite part of the sale is making Christmas signs in the woodshop. Student Brandon Merchant said his favorite part has been decorating the wreaths.

Sahr said the sale helps students develop job skills and have a resume started for when they leave Pied Piper.

Julie Goldberg can be reached at 989-358-5688 or jgoldberg@thealpenanews.com. Follow her on Twitter @jkgoldberg12.

If you go

∫ WHAT: Pied Piper School Annual Holiday Sale

∫ WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, Dec. 10 to 21

∫ WHERE: Pied Piper School, 444 Wilson St., Alpena

∫ INFO: For more information, contact Pied Piper at 989-356-1414

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