Mount Airy: Cooperative School’s Yard Sale Funds Programming

The Big Backyard’s annual yard sale held Saturday looked to raise money for the nursery school’s programming. For some parents, though, it was a throwback to the toys of yesteryear.

“[There is] a lot of kids stuff that I remember having as a kid. Fisher-Price toys that were made in like the ‘70s, those kinds of things are fun to see again,” said Melissa Adams, a Mount Airy resident whose 4-year-old son has been with the school for two years said. “You want to take it home and let your kid play with it.”

In addition to numerous children’s toys, the yard sale featured eclectic items at low prices, including clothing for $1 and chinaware for 25 cents.

Judith Mercuris, director of the cooperative school, said the event is one of four fundraisers The Big Backyard, located at 240 East Gowen Ave., hosts each year in order to enrich the learning experience.

Parent-members of the co-op donated items and worked the tables.

“It sorts of feeds the notion of cooperative,” Mercuris said.

Parents with the co-op have different responsibilities within the school, ranging from doing laundry or sitting on the board. In addition, each parent steps into the classroom once or twice a month to help teach the children.

“You kind of come in and help out,” Adams said. “My husband’s a chef and he’ll come in and cook with them one day.”

Adams said the parents’ work and fundraisers help to offset costs, and keep tuition prices stable.

Mike Miller, a Fairmount resident whose 3-year-old son, Gabriel, attends The Big Backyard, said spending time in the school “gives you a nice feeling for what they do.”

Despite the commute, the school offers a valuable experience, Miller said, noting the backyard for which the school is named.

“They get [the children] out everyday,” Miller said. “No TVs. They play, they get dirty, they get wet. It’s a lot of love.”