Gridiron Club fires up the grill for Meet the Team
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Members the Canfield Gridiron Club were hard at work in the kitchen during the club’s annual Meet the Team Steak Fry fundraiser Aug. 24.
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Members of the seventh-grade football team arrived at the Canfield Gridiron Club’s annual Meet the Team Steak Fry fundraiser ready to start their shifts bussing tables Aug. 24. Coach Tom Donadee (far right) and assistant coach Brett Cooper (far left) were also on hand.
By ABBY SLANKER
Steaks were sizzling during the Canfield Gridiron Club’s annual Meet the Team Steak Fry fundraiser at the Canfield High School cafeteria Aug. 24. The Canfield Gridiron Club is the parent booster club for Canfield Local Schools football teams.
Each football squad, from seventh-grade to varsity, took shifts during the dinner, including bussing and cleaning tables. Throughout the day, each team, along with their cheerleaders, were introduced to family and friends on the football field, with the varsity team being introduced at a rally at the end of the fundraiser.
According to Keith Rogers, president of the Canfield Gridiron Club, the fundraiser is the club’s biggest of the year and proceeds help to meet the needs of the seventh-grade through varsity football programs.
“This is all about the kids. We use the money raised here today to benefit the players,” Rogers said.
The menu included steak, potatoes, corn, salad, cake and beverage. Tropical Sugar Shack was also on hand with shaved ice. Kaleel Brothers donated a portion of the food.
A Chinese auction, chaired by Deborah Minenok, was offered and included 85 baskets with donations from each football squad, cheerleaders, football families and local businesses. Attendees had a chance to win a variety of items, including a basket of gift cards, a basket of lottery tickets, a bucket full of car wash items, Halloween baskets, a handyman basket and several pieces of jewelry. Two big ticket items, a Bowflex and a 29-inch flat screen TV, were also available to win.
“The support we received from local businesses was unbelievable. We have several businesses which donate each year,” Rogers said.
Parent members of the Canfield Gridiron Club also volunteered in all aspects of the fundraiser, from selling tickets to working in the kitchen and on the grills, and from prepping the day before to selling spirit wear at the dinner. The club also offered a 50/50 raffle.
“We couldn’t do this fundraiser without the parents. They are always here to support the kids and they always step up when asked,” Rogers said.
Ambition is the word of this year‘s football season, with the senior players choosing the word. The Gridiron Club is selling T-shirts depicting the ambition theme with the varsity team’s schedule on the back. The T-shirts will be available at home games, including the home opener Sept. 6 versus Alliance.
“The Gridiron Club truly appreciates the overwhelming support of the community and we would like to thank them for their support this year,” Rogers said.