There are so many ways to contribute your time and talent at Terra Linda Elementary. We have parents, grandparents and community members that volunteer in many capacities.
This year, we want to highlight a few volunteers. Our hope is that you will see that any amount of time and talent that you are able to contribute can make a huge impact in your community.
Becky Seppala is a mom of four children and a dentist. In her spare time, I imagine her hiding in a closet and binge watching reruns of 90210 on an iPad.
But let’s be honest, she’s probably unpacking their newly remodeled house, running kiddos to sports, cleaning up Goldfish crackers all while bringing laughter to everyone who comes across her path. We really aren’t sure how she does it all!
Thank you, for all that you have given to the PTC!
An Interview With A Volunteer // Q&A with : Becky Seppala
Can you tell us a little about the activity for which you volunteer?
“I am the Dining for Dollars committee chair; dining for dollars is a way of fundraising for Terra Linda by partnering with restaurants to plan dining events for our school and local community to receive a portion of the restaurant’s profit on a certain date.”
What you do as a volunteer for Dining for Dollars?
“My main responsibilities are to select restaurants, that our community enjoys attending, that are willing to partner with TL and support our financial needs. I plan with the restaurant management staff, and coordinate with the PTC Board, to schedule events throughout the year; some involve brief applications as well. As an event approaches, I advertise within the school with posters, distribute fliers to students, and use social media to spread the word about attending the restaurant. After the event, I collect the funds raised and turn them in to the PTC treasurer.”
How does Terra Linda benefit from Dining for Dollars?
“Not only does TL benefit from the money raised, but each of the four events throughout the year help to develop a stronger sense of community between TL families and staff as they spend time together outside of school, as well as build stronger relationships with local businesses.”
Can you share a fun experience you’ve had while heading up Dining for Dollars?
“This activity is a great example of a way to get involved at TL without having to just volunteer at the school during school hours. I am able to work on coordinating events and advertising on my own time (my days off, evenings, weekends, etc). There are so many businesses that are looking to support schools financially, and they make it very easy to take advantage of these opportunities for our kids! One night that stands out was the McMenamin’s friend and family night. Following my son’s baseball game, most families from his team headed there for dinner. We showed up to see the restaurant full of other TL families, and our team ended up all sitting together in the back. It was so fun to get to know each other better in a relaxed, social setting, all while making money for TL by just eating dinner! Our crew may have been a little rowdy, but it was rewarding when I went to meet the manager to obtain the funds raised; he had nothing but compliments for our school’s support, and couldn’t wait to invite us back after the amazing turnout we had!”
Do you utilize PTC funds to organize Dining for Dollars?
“PTC doesn’t have to fund any these events—families just get to go and support!”
Our next Dining for Dollars is Tuesday, Sept 26 at Laughing Planet. For more info, click here.