Panther Valley Elementary hopes to make its dream of new playground equipment a reality.

And the plan is off to a great start thanks to the school’s annual book fair — with significant support from parents and a dedicated volunteer.

All told, the school raised $4,779 to get new playground equipment at the book fair earlier this month. The school hasn’t had a playground for years.

Along the way, they also raised money so that members of the C.A.R.E.S. Adult Day program in Jim Thorpe could purchase books as well.

“It’s important for the kids to realize that not only are we helping our school, but we’re helping other people,” Principal Robert Palazzo said.

The money raised included the proceeds from students attending the book fair, the book fair family night, and a change drive.

School officials said the event would not have been possible without Nesquehoning resident Bertha Shreffler, who volunteers each year to work long hours running the book fair and change drive. She was recognized at the Panther Valley school board meeting last week.

“Bertha is one of a kind. She’s passionate about literacy and works hard to make sure every student has an opportunity to get a book during the school year, even if that means adding a few cents or dollars out of her own pocket here and there to make sure the students get the books they want,” Palazzo said.

Each day during the change drive, Panther Valley Elementary students would be challenged to collect as many of a given coin as possible — pennies one day, quarters another.

Shreffler was responsible for counting it all — a total of more than $3,000 worth of change, by hand.

“Bertha is one of the most dedicated, passionate, giving people I’ve had the chance to meet since I started here last year,” Palazzo said.

In the past two years, thanks in part to Shreffler’s volunteering, the school has been able to buy books for an elementary school in Allentown and Head Start students in Coaldale.

This year, they chose C.A.R.E.S.

Participants in the program got to visit the school and pick out their own books.

The students call her the “Book Fair teacher,” even though her position is entirely voluntary.

The book fair is a huge fundraiser for the district. For every $1 spent at the book fair, 50 cents goes back to the district.

Students in the class who raised the most money in the change war, Adrienne Pelo’s third-grade class, each got $25 to spend at the book fair, while Pelo herself got $500 to spend on her classroom.

The school needs to raise a total of about $20,000 to make the playground a reality. Not only do they have a strong local fundraising base, they’re also working with the nonprofit Kaboom! to secure a grant to help the project.