ARLINGTON — The students of Pioneer Elementary School went shopping in downtown Arlington, Nov. 10 in a new event, Pioneer Goes to Town, coordinated by the Parent Teacher Student Association of Pioneer Elementary School.

“A few moms went around to all of the downtown Arlington businesses and got discounts for Pioneer families,” said one of those moms, Brenda Berchule.

“Our goal was to let our families know what downtown Arlington has to offer and hopefully drum up some business for them,” Berchule said.

The parents of Pioneer students rallied up 19 shops and businesses that offered special deals for kids from 3:40 to 8:30 p.m., Nov. 10.

“There are people who think Smokey Point is downtown Arlington,” Berchule added, explaining that she is part of the event planning committee of the PTSA and all worked hard to plan the event.

“We just want to thank downtown for all that they do for the schools,” she said.

Some of the shops agreed to stay open later than their regular hours for the event, and they are all offering something special for the families.

“New Beginnings offered 50 percent off all kids clothes,” Berchule said, “And they aren’t even open on Mondays.”

But it’s not just downtown businesses that help the school, she said.

“We’ve got so many donations for our science garden, too,” she said, mentioning Cuz Concrete and Newell Corporation.

“We just wanted to thank the community.”