More than 100 people attended the Little Promises Children’s Program dinner and auction on May 2.
They raised almost $9,000, said Nelia Taraski, director and principal.
Live auction sales included four one-day Disneyland/California Adventure Park-Hopper passes ($425), a dump truck load of log chunks donated by Cascade Timber Consultants ($525), two Sisters vacation getaway passes ($600 total), a Black Butte getaway ($450) and two nights in a McKenzie River cabin ($475).
Little Promises is hoping to raise a total of $20,000 for a newer vehicle, Taraski said.
The school uses the van to transport students during the week and also for the regular educational outings on Fridays. Parent volunteers help transport the group of children, which is a mix of pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first- through sixth-grade students.
Currently, they drive a 1992 seven-passenger Ford van which was donated by Larry and Anita Hutchins several years ago.
“We took aside some time (during the event) to honor Larry’s (Hutchins) dedication to the program,” Taraski said. “He came and did most of the mowing and weeding and cleaned the gutters.”
Staff members and about 25 volunteers pitched in a great deal as well, she said.
“Staff had been working really hard around the grounds,” Taraski said.
It meant a lot to Taraski that in addition to all the extra work during the week, staff members also showed up on Saturday, she said.
Little Promises is selling Mother’s Day hanging flower baskets – one for $13 or two for $25. They are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday and are located at 28028 Pleasant Valley Road.