Dalasta, other PTA members show their dedication

When Jaime Dalasta approached the counter at the Newton Taco Johns location recently, she didn’t recognize the store employee — but the employee recognized her.

“She said, ‘Hey, aren’t you the box top lady?,’” Dalasta recalled.

That’s the nickname Dalasta has earned for her hard work through the years in collecting labels, box tops and other items to help win contests and earn prizes for her daughter’s schools. First at Berg Elementary, where her daughter, Danielle, was a student, and over the past three years, at Aurora Heights Elementary School, Dalasta has been willing to go on all types of product scavenger hunts to help earn money for her daughter’s school.

One of her more momentous accomplishments to date happened about three weeks ago when she learned Aurora Heights would receive a check for $10,000 for being one of the top 100 Campbell’s Soup Labels for Education winners in the nation for 2015.

Aurora Heights Principal Jim Gilbert brought the check to the Nov. 23 Newton Community School District board of education meeting and told the story about how he learned about the huge prize. He had been skeptical about whether labels could lead to a huge prize — even when Dalasta told him Aurora Heights had made the finals of Campbell’s “Grand Stand for Schools” giveaway.

“I’m standing out on bus duty,” Gilbert said. “And her daughter comes up to me and said, ‘Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Gilbert, my mom needs to talk to you.’ Jaime hands me her phone, and a message said ‘Congratulations, Aurora Heights, you are one of our 100 winners of a $10,000 prize.’ So I had to eat my words.”

Dalasta and several principals and parents were asked to name some of those who have helped volunteer in some way over the past few years.

Those volunteers include Ryan and Amber Zink, Tim Bloom, Carrie Garrett, Robyn and Bryan Friedman, Stephanie Critchfield, Alisa Buchli, Kristi Cummins, Barb Greer, Christine Dawson, Laura Miller, Sarah Muhs, Mindy Benson, Denise Williams, Sommer Kibbee, Meg Eide, Scott and Julie Creech, Ina Heidemann, Joe Klingensmith, Chelsea Swarts, Nicole Biondi, Ann Leonard, Rishell Meyers, Jennifer Mehmen, Michelle Stalzer, Jamie White, Jodi Portner, Beth Moon, Denise Templeman and many others.

Dalasta said there is a role for every parent in PTA.

“You don’t have to start with huge national contests,” Dalasta said. “We need someone to do everything from making snacks to making phone calls. Start small.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121
ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com