Classroom raffle baskets are just one of many reasons to visit the annual bazaar, which features over 60 vendors, a Parent-Teacher Organization bake sale, and, of course, a chance to meet and take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Bring your own phone or camera for photos from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the stage, then the famous couple will walk around greeting visitors from 1 to 2 p.m. Helpers will be available to take your family photos with Santa.

On Wednesday morning, Ella White PTO members gathered to prepare and wrap the 25 classroom raffle baskets, which will be on display in the media center at Thunder Bay Junior High during the bazaar.

Ella White PTO President Kristin Barden said people look forward to participating in the classroom raffle each year since it was added to the bazaar in about 2017.

“They love them,” Barden said. “It’s actually made our bazaar bigger, because people want to come in and support Ella White.”

News Photo by Darby Hinkly Classroom raffle baskets, such as the ones seen here, are very popular at the Ella White Christmas Bazaar. The basket themes are selected by teachers, and all proceeds from the raffles go back to the classrooms for use during this school year. Pictured is the Coffee and Chocolate basket from Hope Smith’s classroom.

“Some people come just for the baskets,” PTO Treasurer Jennifer Werda added. “It is really fun.”

Visitors can purchase raffle tickets for $1 each, six for $5, or 25 for $20, and place them into the boxes in front of the raffle baskets of their choosing. The raffle drawing will be held at 2 p.m. The basket themes are selected by teachers, and all proceeds from the raffles go back to the classrooms for use during this school year. Raffle baskets range in value from $250 to $599, and there is also a $250 cash tree put on by the PTO, with all proceeds going back to the classrooms, as well.

Ella White PTO Secretary Crystal Noble coordinates the raffle baskets and teachers start collecting items and getting their themes together in early October.

“She starts with the teachers in October,” Barden said of Noble. “The teachers pick their theme, and then they start, for those two months, collecting with parents. They get startup money from us, the PTO, to start their baskets, and then we collect them, set them all up, and wrap them.”

“Local businesses are key for a lot of it,” Werda said. “They are very generous, usually.”

Classroom basket themes this year include: Downtown Date Night, Sip and Shop, Handyman, Dogs, Wildcat Nation, Winter, Lego, All Around Alpena Gift Cards, Family Adventure, Ice Cream Social, Stuff the Stocking, Baking With Kids, Arts and Crafts, Gift Cards, Game Night, Michigan, Sport Parent, Coffee and Chocolate, Grilling, Christmas, Squishmallows, Treat Yourself, Winter Theme Shop Eat Win, Coffee and Cash, and Pizza Party.

“It’s a race to pick the theme,” Barden added, noting that each theme has to be different, so the teachers want to pick theirs as quickly as possible to get the theme they want.

She said the classroom raffle baskets were added to the bazaar several years ago as a way to raise funds for the classrooms.

“The bazaar has been going on since the 80s,” Barden added. “Every year gets a little bit bigger.”

“I love it,” Werda said. “It’s fantastic.”

Barden added that the reason the bazaar is at the junior high this year instead of the high school is because there is a basketball tournament scheduled at the high school that day.

“So, we had to maneuver a little bit,” she said.

“But the junior high has a nice setup, I think,” Werda said. “I think it’ll be a nice flow to it.”

“We’re just thankful that these schools allow us to come in on a Saturday,” Barden added.

“We’ll see how this year goes, and, if we like it, then maybe we’ll stay there,” Werda said.

Barden added that the community always looks forward to the Ella White Bazaar.

She explained why people should come check it out on Saturday.

“It is very well-loved in the community,” Barden said. “The community always shows us great support. We have some crafters that have been with us since the 80s, since the beginning, and we have crafters that are new this year. We have a wide range of stuff … and, of course, to come support Ella White.”