Adopt-a-Class TN is selling Christmas and holiday cards designed by local students to help three area elementary schools.
Established in the Village in 2017, the nonprofit first attempted a similar fundraiser in spring 2021, selling all-purpose cards designed by students at Loudon, Vonore and Steekee elementary schools.
Following the initiative’s success, an initial holiday collection was added and a second all-purpose sold in the spring. The newest cards, once more inspired by the upcoming holiday season, will be the fourth installment.
“Although fewer people are sending holiday cards than in past years, people used to send a lot of cards every year,” Karen Hamerslag, founder and director of Adopt-a-Class, said. “Now they don’t so much, but still enough people do, especially when you consider the population in Tellico Village.
“... Using it as a twice-a-year fundraiser works well, where we do the theme of winter holidays for this time of year, and then just do an assortment of all-purpose cards for the spring,” she added.
Work on the cards began when children returned to school in August, with hundreds of elementary-school students coming up with designs and drawings based off a couple of prompts. By the end of September, Hamerslag collected all the prototypes and brought them to a panel of six Adopt-a-Class volunteers to make a final selection.
The result is a box of 14 cards — six from Loudon, the largest of the three schools, and four each from Vonore and Steekee. Each card features the student’s drawing on the front, two blank inside pages for writing custom messages and the artist’s name, grade year and school on the back. All 14 students received a framed version of their design as a souvenir.
“We love this one because it gives students recognition and involves them in class, in school spirit and having things to help their schools,” Hamerslag said. “And then they get the individual recognition as always where we bring the prints and the children get to take that home with them.”
Adopt-a-Class produced 300 copies of the holiday cards and started selling at the start of the month. Boxes cost $15, contain the cards as well as self-sealing envelopes and are available by mail order directly from Hamerslag. A display of the card fronts is set up at both the Public Library at Tellico Village and United Community Bank.
Purchases should be addressed to Karen Hamerslag, 232 Elohi Way, Loudon, TN 37774, and include a check payable to Adopt-a-Class for $15 per box. Buyers need to include their name, delivery address and a contact number or email, with free delivery available in the Village and Rarity Bay. Hamerslag said once she receives an order, she usually delivers the cards within two or three days.
A separate, all-purpose pack featuring two popular designs from the previous spring collections is also available in more limited supply. The boxes contain 10 cards, five of each design, and cost $10. Sales of both the holiday and all-purpose cards will continue through the end of the month or until supply runs out.
All cards are put together through volunteer work, keeping costs at a minimum. Funds raised will go toward a number of charitable works the nonprofit does in partnership with the three schools.
The organization notably provides thousands of dollars of class materials requested by teachers and runs a literacy program, which offers a monthly Highlights magazine subscription to all second- and third-graders from all three schools and Storyworks magazine to fourth-graders.
