By Julie Slama | [email protected]

This fall, Parkside Elementary school children may have an after-school program to head to – that is, if $20,000 can be raised through monetary donations as well as support at an upcoming vintage market and art sale.

A group of about 40 current and former Parkside parents, alumni and neighbors have pitched in to organize the sale, hoping donated items that will be sold will make 100 percent contribution to the school. The funds would help support three teachers who have agreed to be involved in the program and supplies. 

The vintage market and art sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 22 in the parking lot of the Utah Orthopaedic Specialists, 5316 S. Woodrow St. (100 West). 

The group is seeking donations of gently used items and inexpensive artwork that can be sold as well as monetary contributions to meet their goal. If community members wish to donate items, contact Carolyn Kasteler at [email protected]. For monetary donations, go to www.murrayschools.org and earmark the contribution to Parkside afterschool program. To volunteer, contact Jennifer Brass at [email protected].

“The dynamics of the school is that 86 percent of the Title I school are eligible for free or reduced lunch and breakfast and are very challenged,” said Jennifer Brass, one of the organizers along with Carolyn Kasteler. “The neighborhood asked, ‘What can we do?’” 

Through conversations with the principal, Kasteler learned that many students need help with reading and homework and through the help of teachers in an after-school program, they could get the support they need. This also would help with working parents who need to pick up their children after work hours. 

“The children need to be protected, loved and have positive role models,” she said. “We’re wanting to strengthen families and the community is stepping up to help.” 

Kasteler, herself, had volunteered to help with reading and art when her own children, who are now adults, were Parkside students. She hopes she can help with reading with the afterschool program in the future. 

Brass said that the program would include teachers instructing students in subject areas as well as homework help. They’d also instruct students how to use some of the Utah Food Bank food donations to prepare meals so they could help make healthy meals for their families. 

Physical activity and games would be included in the afterschool program. 

“Many of the students live in apartments where there is no green space, so this way, they’ll get more activity and learn how to do some physical activity in a confined area,” said Brass, who also has adult children who attended Parkside. “Instead of hanging around the school, they’d be in learning and getting the support they need from caring teachers.”

Already, Brass said local artists have donated or are making items to sell at the event. These include stained glass, pottery, watercolor, oil painting, weaving, quilts and other artwork. 

“It’s nice to get donations from our community,” she said. “People who know it’s a fundraiser going to an afterschool program are being generous.” 

Items that may be found at the vintage market sale include furniture, books, household items as well as children’s toys and sporting items. There also will be a $5 lunch — hamburger or hot dog, watermelon, chips and a drink — available and the event is being supported with volunteers from the Murray Fire, Murray Police and chamber of commerce. 

The idea of the sale came from a charity sale in the Ogden area that has about 75 tables of donated items and raises “thousands of dollars,” Kasteler said, adding that she hopes through monetary donations and the sale this group will reach its goal. 

“We’d love to have the community support these children,” she said. “It would make a big difference in their lives.”