Fundraiser purchases commemorative yard signs to celebrate seniors at Arroyo Grande, Nipomo high schools

ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. -- South San Luis Obispo County communities are rallying together to help honor graduating seniors at Arroyo Grande and Nipomo high schools.

A campaign recently started to purchase all students in the Class of 2020 special commemorative signs that can be displayed in yards, windows or front doors.

With the graduation ceremony in doubt, plus other traditional senior activities cancelled, a group of Arroyo Grande parents got together to figure out what they could do to help recognize their children.

"It started to become, what do we do?" said parent Sarah Paddack. "What are we going to do? How are we going to make this special? There were a lot of fun ideas, and this one came across."

The idea was one that Paddack had seen created at other schools over the last few weeks, yard signs that bring attention to someone in the Class of 2020.

With the sign idea, Paddack and other parents started a fundraising campaign to help purchase them.

She also contacted Burdine Printing in Arroyo Grande.

"I said anything that we can do to help," said Tanya Gonzales, a mother of two Arroyo Grande seniors. "I talked to my boss, which is my mom, the owner of the shop, and we just kind of worked some numbers, so they could get the best deal possible because it is something from them."

Burdine designed a with a sign that measured 24"x18" and cost $10, including stakes.

The design includes the name and logo of the high school, plus the word "Senior," with 2020 forming the "I."

At the bottom of the signs, they also include the message, "#AllInThisTogether."

Personalized signs for individual students were also available to purchase for $20.''

The campaign for Arroyo Grande students raised $4,000 in less than a week.

"We put up a Facebook post," said Paddack. "We shared it publicly and instantly we had people coming forward and sending us money and that made this a completely different experience."

According to Paddack and Gonzales, contributors included parents, businesses, community members, even people without kids at the school.

"It was a huge community effort and it was so fast," said Gonzales. "We had the money raised in just a few days to completely cover all the signs. It was incredible the amount of support we got from the community as a whole."

Many of the donations came from area businesses and public contributions.

At Nipomo, the fundraiser was organized by the school's booster club.

"We raised over $3,000 in just four days," said Booster Club Vice President Sandra Jimenez, who is also the mother of a senior. "It's just amazing to see all of our families come together in a time like this,"

The club sold 250 signs, including 51 that are personalized.

"It's going to show support to our seniors, and anybody that drives by is going to be able to see this and recognize that we are supporting our seniors," said Jimenez. "It's so great to be in this community."

Similar signs were also created for graduating students at Lopez and Central Coast New Tech high schools.

Burdine said it will print out more than 1,000 signs.

According to Lucia Mar Unified School District, graduation ceremonies at all district schools have not yet been officially cancelled.

The district is still waiting to see how current shelter at home order, physical distancing orders will stand over the next several weeks.

Any funds raised above the total cost for the two schools will be used to help with graduation celebrations, if there they are held, or towards a future reunion for the classes.