Photo Provided Union Local Middle School recreation and outdoor zone project organizers are raffling off a new Ford F150 truck with 1,500 tickets at $40 each still available for purchase.

BELMONT — People could win a brand new Ford F-150 by buying a raffle ticket from Union Local Schools, with the money going to Union Local Middle School’s funds for its recreation and education outdoor zone.

Union Local Schools are raffling off the gray 2024 F-150 XLT Supercrew Cab truck to raise money for the recreation and education zone.

Project organizers at the school are planning for the outdoor zone to have two full-size basketball courts, which could also be used as pickleball courts, a volleyball structure and an area for science, technology, engineering and math activities outside the classroom. Organizers would also like to integrate cornhole and ping pong tables into the area.

This outdoor zone project is expected to cost $200,000.

The recreation and education zone would be situated outside the back of the middle school in an empty field that teacher Robin Sefsick described as underdeveloped.

Organizers chose to go with an unconventional fundraiser to get the project started, hopefully, by the summer. They partnered with Doan Ford, which offered them a good deal to raffle off the truck.

Sefsick said that, by doing a big, unconventional fundraiser like this, she and other organizers thought it would give them the ability to get the outdoor zone project started.

“We just looked at what our community would be interested in that was different from just the conventional small raffles, and we are looking at something that was a little bit more grand. That might say, ‘Oh my gosh, look what they’re doing at Union Local. They’re really coming up with some creative ideas to get money for things that they want.'”

Students at the middle school are helping to sell the tickets at $40 each while people can also purchase tickets at the school or Doan Ford.

The truck is currently sitting at Doan Ford, but organizers are bringing it back and forth to the school. It will be placed outside the school on Thursday.

“It is to help us create our space out there for the community recreation and education zone,” Sefsick said. “You don’t see too many school districts raffling off vehicles, but we just want to get started on our project.”

Sefsick wants to advertise the fundraiser to not only the Union Local community but other places.

Organizers are raffling off 3,000 tickets and will broadcast the drawing live once they hit 3,000 tickets that have sold. About 1,500 tickets are still waiting to be sold to those interested in a brand new truck.

Organizers are hoping to raise at least $80,000 by this summer to get this project started. So far, they have raised nearly $20,000.

“We’re so committed to this project and our vision, and we’re dedicated to our students,” Sefsick said. “So we want what’s best for them, and we know by creating this community and recreation education zone, that we’ll be able to get the kids out and get them some fitness and wellness and exercise.”