Creekside High School Hosts Its First Community Flea Market In Effort To Raise Money For Students

Dec. 1, 2007 - PRLog -- CREEKSIDE HIGH SCHOOL HOSTS ITS FIRST COMMUNITY FLEA MARKET IN AN EFFORT TO RAISE MONEY FOR STUDENTS TRAVELING TO KENYA
Contact: Maria Pinkston, 770-306-4300 ext. 148
(FAIRBURN, GA) - When it comes to collectibles, everybody knows that “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”  That especially holds true for some hard-working high school students in Fairburn, who hope to strike gold on December 15th with their first swap meet that is set to teach them much more than the importance of bargain hunting. Students in the Sankofa Africana Studies Club at Creekside High School have been selling candies and cakes, taking pledges, making phone calls to businesses, and are now hosting a Community Flea market in their gymnasium in effort to raise enough money to pay for their trip to Kenya, East Africa.
The name of the club, Sankofa, is an Akan [African] term that means one should look back first in order to move forward. Members of the club meet each week to do just that, learn about the past in Africa as well as their family heritage. “I didn’t really know that I came from Africa,” says Cassiana McFarlane, club President. “I mean my mother is from Brazil and my father, well he is from Panama, so I thought I came from there, but being a member of this club is teaching me all about my full heritage and I really like it, it’s very interesting.”
Students in the club are exposed to a wide-range of activities from learning African dance, reading about the origins of mankind, tracing the African Diaspora, and listening to the experts, such as Al Anderson a local Marketing guru who also serves as Honorary Counsel for the East African county of Tanzania. “It’s all about exposure”, says, Pinkston, Club Co-Sponsor. “I have traveled to Africa and other countries within the African Diaspora and I want to share the lessons I’ve learned. I want them to embrace their past and be proud of our African heritage. But more importantly, I want to train them to become global thinkers and leaders.  This is why I am doing everything in my power to help them raise the monies to fund this trip of a lifetime.  I know that their perspectives will change once they have a chance to see how others live in another part of the world.”
The flea market is just one of dozens of fundraisers the students are conducting to help meet their goal.  Earlier this month challenge letters were mailed to businesses urging them to make a small donation. The fundraising are set to teach a valuable lesson to students. Pinkston hopes that the community will show how much they care by giving something towards the student’s trip. “Even if its $1.00, it all adds up,” says Pinkston. “When it’s time for the students to give back I want them to be able to look at this as a positive experience so, they will not hesitate to pay it forward.”  
Sankofa student members hope that the Flea Market will grow larger and larger each year so that more students can continue to participate on journeys to countries within the African Diaspora.  Other school clubs who are seeking to subsidize activities and purchases not provided for in the school budget will also be participating in the Flea Market.  Under the supervision of the Sankofa Club Advisory Council, students from sponsoring clubs will man the booths themselves, and, together with a small core of volunteering teachers, plan to work a 6-hour day at the market.  Creekside hopes for at least anywhere between 1,000 to 2,000 attendees to browse the booths. Outside vendors are welcome to participate.
Lee Lyles, Co-Sponsor for the Sankofa Club, says the Club and fundraisers also serve “as a means for the students to make a significant contribution to their own success, not just by raising money, but increasing confidence and self-esteem as well".
For more information or for vendor inquiries, call Maria Pinkston 770-306-4300 ext 148.
Creekside High School Community Flea Market
Date: Saturday, December 15th.
Time: 8:00 a. m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Creekside High School Gymnasium. Price: Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for students and seniors. Parking is free. Donations will also be accepted.
Phone: (770) 306-4300 ext 148 to reserve a space
Web Page: http://www.creeksidehighschool.com
Age Suitability: All Ages
What: Holiday gift baskets, plants and flowers, makeup, African art, jewelry, handbags, scarves, household items, books and more.
Food will be for sale all day. Admission and food proceeds benefit Sankofa Africana Studies Club trip to Kenya, East Africa. Booth proceeds will go towards the support of the individual club.
Vendor Fees
$50 for businesses

Website: www.creeksidehighschool.com