Flea market aids local students

By Andy Brown
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Updated: July 6, 2015

Terry and Susan Tinich have a fondness for unearthing vintage relics and putting them on display with a more modern look.

They also have a love for helping children in need.

As it turns out, the Tiniches have found a way for those two passions to co-exist and benefit everyone involved, including the Louisburg community.

On June 20, the Louisburg couple organized the Louisburg Flea Market at the West Gym parking lot. They sold approximately 45 spots for venders to come in and sell their items, and despite some rainy weather, had a big turnout.

It meant a good opening weekend for the Tiniches and the rest of the vendors, but an even better one when it comes to Louisburg students.

You see, the Tiniches sell each parking space to venders for $10, not to make money for themselves, but help children and their families who might need a little assistance. All the proceeds from parking space sales go to help create pay to participate scholarships for students at Louisburg Middle and Louisburg High Schools.

“It really seems like parents just get nickled and dimed to death when it comes to fees for school,” Terry Tinich said. “It is not the district’s fault at all and it is something they have to do, but it is getting to the point where parents can’t afford all this stuff and hopefully this will help a little bit.”

USD 416 charge middle and high school students a pay to participate fee each year. Parents must pay a $60 fee for each activity they take part in, with a maximum charge of three activities.

Terry, a teacher at Louisburg High School, and Susan, an administrator in the Cass-Midway school district, have seen how the trend is turning and how it has become more difficult for parents to afford everything.

As for the Louisburg district, Terry says it hasn’t gotten to the point where a student hasn’t been able to participate because of the fee, but he and Susan both know it is coming soon.

“If you look at the free and reduced lunch numbers for the Louisburg district, the number has gotten higher every year,” Susan said. “It is only a matter of time when parents are going to have a hard time paying that fee if their kids want to do sports or something like band.”

The Tiniches scheduled three dates over the summer to have the city flea market. The next one is set for 7 a.m. on July 18 and the third will be on Aug. 8.

Terry said he is looking for venders for each date and both are also looking for food venders to participate as well.

“We are looking for something unique, something like a walking taco booth you would see at the fair or someone selling homemade peach cobbler or something like that,” Terry said. “We wouldn’t charge them a fee to set up, but we do ask that they donate 10 percent of their profits to the scholarship fund.”

The hope for the flea market, according to the Tiniches, is to be able to expand and make it a weekend-type event that would draw others from outside of Louisburg.

As for now, their focus is making it work this summer and helping out the kids. Their goal is to raise enough money for 10 scholarships.

“The community has really responded well so far,” Susan said. “People have been really supportive. Some didn’t come look, but they wanted to donate to the cause, so they just drove up and donated some money which is great as well.”