43
Cafeteria workers raise funds for needy
By christine Keeling
austintown
More than 30 school- district food service employees were fast and furious with their bids.
The group raised $451 bidding with and against each other Wednesday during a white elephant gift exchange at their Christmas party, in the middle school’s cafetorium.
The money from the game, which included both real and gag gifts, will be divided among the dis-trict’s schools to purchase coats, hats and mittens for children who need them this winter.
“The bow is worth a $1,” said Tascin Brooks, director of food service, to entice her co-workers to bid on a gift she held in the air. More than 30 gifts were strewn around a Christmas tree waiting to be auctioned to the highest bidder.
Shelley Chine, cafeteria manager at the middle school, and Agnes Galla, Fitch cafeteria employee, went head-to-head in 50-cent increments on a mystery gift, before Fitch cook Debbie Heffron nabbed it from them for $7.50. Heffron cautiously unwrapped it and was happy to see a ceramic angel bowl.
Chine didn’t go away empty-handed. She later bid $7.50 and won a rain poncho and for another $7.50 received three books, one with the title, “What My Cat Is Thinking.”
“I love it,” Victoria Baker tried to say with a straight face, when her group of coworkers outbid everyone for the largest box under the tree. Their $31 purchase was the largest of the day and netted them holiday lighted ladders in a patriotic and an Easter-theme. The unique items were packaged in an adult disposable-briefs box.
“We were a little nervous when we saw that,” Baker said.
The food-service manager at Woodside Elementary plans to hang the decorations at the school. “The little kids will like it,” she said.
Brooks said she wanted all the district’s cafeteria workers to feel like they belong to a team. She hopes the winter mitten project will be something they can do annually together.
“Our motto is going to be that our kitchen staff warms you from the inside and out,” said Brooks.