HOLLAND, Texas — The Holland Independent School District Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) is seeking donations to help give every Holland ISD staff member a pie this Thanksgiving. The organization will be accepting donations until Nov. 8 to be able to get pies to staff in time for the holiday.
This is the third time the PTO has organized the event, and it has grown tremendously since the idea originated by a volunteer.
"Three years ago, a volunteer started this project with the hope of providing a pie to every elementary staff person -- that was about 55 employees at the time," said Stephanie Gacke, the PTO president. "She put it out on Facebook and started asking the community and other parents for help and the response was so overwhelming that they actually opened it up to the entire district and we've been able to do that for them."
For the third annual Holland ISD pie drive, 135 pies will need to be purchased to ensure every staff member receives one.
"I would say the biggest thing is that our staff are not expecting this, this is not an expectation even though it's year three, it's still a surprise," Gacke added. "I think it's just a little reminder that they are loved and appreciated, especially when we're ending up our second nine weeks and staff and teachers are starting to get tired, district employees have been working hard and they're ready for that winter break and it's just a nice way to say thank you."
Heather Dunnam, the assistant principal at Holland Elementary School, will be getting one of the pies. She received one for the first time in 2023 and said it made her feel supported and valued.
"I will say that I feel like educators, we are in a thankless job and so when the community pours into us and the community takes time out of their busy and hectic schedules to just do something kind and above and beyond, it makes you feel valued and supported and loved on," Dunnam added. "It makes you want to continue to push through the hard days and celebrate the good days."
A slogan Holland ISD uses across their platforms is "Small school, big education," but Dunnam said the community support is also always big and mighty.
"The Holland community and the Holland PTO, they pour into our staff, they are constantly filling our cups and the annual pie drive is just one tiny example of how amazing they are," Dunnam said.
For the first time, the pie drive will be using a local baker to provide the pies. The PTO asked Love at First Bite in Jarrell to take on the task at $15 a pie. The owner, Denay Tellez, said she was honored to help be part of giving back to a special group of people.
"First of all, I'm very community oriented, people in general, that's why I do this because I love to serve," Tellez added. "When they are giving back to teachers, that's where our kids are. A lot of times we forget to say thank you and so I really am grateful that they honored me and blessed me to be able to do that for them."
Tellez said she has family in the Holland area, but she also had a late dear friend who worked for Holland ISD that makes her part in the pie drive even more sweet. Tellez hopes people see the heart in donating to the pie drive.
"I think that people should really support the teachers, let them know that they are loved," Tellez said. "They put up with a lot, they do a lot, they are always working for our community and our children and our families."
Holland ISD staff will be able to pick their flavor of pie out of four different options; chocolate, pumpkin, banana and coconut. Tellez said they will also have special ingredients, love and her mom's recipes.
All the pies will be delivered to the staff on Nov. 22.
If you would like to donate, you can do so by cash, check or Venmo. The Venmo account is @HollandISD-PTO and you are asked to indicate your donation as "Pie Drive."