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Gridiron Club grills up steak dinner
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Members of the seventh-grade football team and coaches were introduced to family and friends at the football stadium during the Canfield Gridiron Club’s eighth annual Meet the Team Steak Fry on Aug. 15.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.The eighth-grade cheerleading squad was on hand to help with the Canfield Gridiron Club’s eighth annual Meet the Team Steak Fry on Aug. 15.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Members of the eighth-grade football team and their coach Joe Rolla (left) prepared for their shift at the Canfield Gridiron Club’s eighth annual Meet the Team Steak Fry on Aug. 15.
By ABBY SLANKER
Members of the Canfield Gridiron Club served as grill masters during the club’s eighth annual Meet the Team Steak Fry fundraiser at the Canfield High School cafeteria Aug. 15. The Canfield Gridiron Club is the booster club for the 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 in the football stadium to family and friends with the varsity team being introduced at a rally at the end of the fundraiser.
According to Cindy Toohey, Canfield Gridiron Club treasurer, proceeds help to meet the needs of the seventh-grade through varsity football and cheer programs.
“All proceeds from the steak fry are used to benefit the football and cheer programs. We have purchased uniforms, helmets, field equipment, cheer uniforms and many other good things which benefit our athletes. We also provide each player and cheerleader an amount to help offset costs for the camps they must attend,” Toohey said.
The menu included steak, potatoes, corn, salad, bread, cake and beverage.
A Chinese auction took place during the dinner and included 80 baskets with donations from each football squad, cheerleaders, football families and local businesses.
“We have 80 Chinese auction baskets here which have been generously donated to us. We also have a few big items, including a lettermans’ jacket, a BowFlex and a signed Johnny Manziel football,” Toohey 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 team t-shirts at the dinner. The club also offered a 50/50 raffle.
“This is all for the kids. These parents are here for one reason, one team…Canfield Cardinals,” Toohey said.
This year’s team t-shirts, dubbed the ‘word shirt,’ features the word ‘Relentless.’ Each year, the team chooses one word to be featured on the shirts which will represent the football season. The shirts are $15 and will be available at the football games throughout the season.