February fundraising in Ash Grove set for Care to Learn

Ash Grove’s Battle of the Businesses begins this month; winner gets trophy, bragging rights
 
This month, Ash Grove businesses and residents will have the chance to support the local chapter of Care to Learn through three different fundraisers: Battle of the Businesses, a competition between area businesses where both customers and businesses can donate towards Care to Learn, a virtual drive, and for students in the elementary schools, the Annual Food and Change Drive. The fundraisers will be the only ones for Care to Learn this year, as the pandemic has forced them to cancel all of their other fundraising events.
Battle of the Businesses
The Battle of the Businesses began Monday, Feb. 1. During the entire month, customers who go into a participating business will have the chance to donate towards Care to Learn. In return for their donation, the customers will also get to fill out a paper heart which will be displayed at the business for the entire month. The businesses themselves can also donate.
“Each business participating will compete against the other businesses in the area to see who can raise the most money for Care to Learn,” said Hilary Nicholson, counselor at Ash Grove elementary and Care to Learn liaison. “The winning business will receive a trophy and bragging rights for the year.”
Nicholson said that businesses who get a late start participating in Battle of the Businesses can still take part in the competition.
 “The more businesses competing, the better,” said Nicholson, adding that area businesses were still being called and asked to take part in the competition.
Virtual Drive
Care to Learn is also holding a virtual drive, for those who would like to donate online.
“We will be posting Care to Learn facts each day with a link to donate directly to Care to Learn Ash Grove via the Ash Grove Schools and Care to Learn Facebook pages,” she said. “If you donate directly and want it to go toward a class or business competition, you can comment below or message directly.”
Annual Food and Change Drive
The third fundraiser, the Annual Food and Change Drive, will take place between Feb. 22 and Feb. 26 at the elementary schools. Students can bring in food items during the week, or they can bring in monetary donations, with each dollar donated being counted as two food items. The two classes at Ash Grove Elementary and the two classes at Bois D’Arc Elementary who gather the most food and monetary donations will win a donut party and get to string their teachers.
Funds go to basic needs
The money raised through the various fundraisers this month will go to help Care to Learn meet students’ basic needs.
“The mission of Care to Learn is to provide immediate funding to meet emergent needs in the area of health, hunger, and hygiene so every student can be successful in school,” Nicholson said. “We have provided eye exams and glasses for students who could not see the board, we have helped with turning on utilities for students who did not have heat or water. We have purchased countless coats, shoes, and clothing for students whose shoes were falling apart, or didn’t have a coat, or their clothing was too small. We send home food bags each week filled with easy to make breakfast, lunch, and dinner and snack items for the weekend. This year we are sending home 67 bags per week. The funds raised will go toward continuing to meet the needs of our students.”
For more information, contact Hilary Nicholson at hnicholson@agpirates.com.