Heritage Christian Academy Looks to Top Fundraising Efforts

It’s not uncommon for kids to do some fundraising for their school. Students sell everything from candy bars to wrapping paper to support various programs. Rather than taking the traditional door-to-door sales route, Heritage Christian Academy decided to try a different kind of fundraiser by working with a local bookstore.

The school teamed up with Barnes and Noble in Maple Grove to host a book drive. The bookstore gives the school 20 percent of each sale when a person tells the cashier they want to support Heritage Christian Academy. In previous years, this has resulted in about $5,000 for the school. 

“This is such a huge fundraiser for us,” said Tina Hanscome, organizer and librarian at Heritage Christian Academy. The fundraiser was held in-store on Saturday and will continue online through this Thursday. All of the money raised will help the school fund fine arts programs like theater, art and music. “As a private Christian school, we don’t get government funding, so money from fundraisers like this is crucial.”

To help boost sales on Saturday, students put on several performances in the store. A group of eighth-grade theater students performed fairy tale skits, the choir sang holiday songs, and the school orchestra provided shopping tunes, all in an effort to enhance the fundraiser.

Customers can still support the school by purchasing books online from Barnes and Noble, and putting the ID number 10605715 in the order form.  “If we could top $5,000 that would be fantastic,” Theater Teacher Jason Wipf said. “The money we get from this fundraiser will fund our spring show, so we hope the community can help us out.”

Aside from royalties, the theater program also needs money to make costumes and build the set. “We don’t have a stage, so we take over the gym and do everything by hand,” Wipf said. “It takes time and money, but the students really get a lot from that experience.”

Wipf said the theater program teaches students how to communicate in a group, and helps many with the fear of public speaking.

Eighth-grader Hannah Lacroix said the theater class is doing just that. This budding actress, who performed at Barnes and Noble on Saturday, said she doesn’t mind participating in fundraisers if it helps the program she loves.

“I really like acting and I want to keep working on my skills at school, so if that means I have to help with a fundraiser here or there, I’m happy to do it,” she said.

This marks the sixth time Heritage Christian Academy participated in a book drive at Barnes and Noble and Hanscome said they will continue the fundraiser next year.