Pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, and OJ for breakfast is a great way to start the day. “Enjoying a short stack for a tall cause” and having it served up by students and staff from Eastern Suffolk BOCES Edward J. Milliken Technical Center in Oakdale to raise funds for SkillsUSA is priceless.
Applebee’s offers non-profit organizations a fun and effective way to raise funds by hosting a pancake breakfast at many of their locations. ESBOCES hosted a Flapjack Fundraiser at the Applebee’s in Patchogue on Sunday, January 6. They raised $1,500. These funds will help support the SkillsUSA students competing in the State SkillsUSA Competition in Syracuse, NY in April, 2013.
Students and staff volunteered to greet, seat, serve, and clean up. ESBOCES School Nurse Sue O’Neill was instrumental in coordinating the fundraiser. She said, “The students engage in a variety of fundraisers throughout the school year but when we heard about the Flapjack Fundraiser we thought it was a great idea and different. We knew it was going to be great when friends, family members, and ESBOCES staff members arrived at 8:00 a.m. and many were still coming in the door at 9:50 a.m.”
While people were waiting for breakfast, students from the ESBOCES Automotive Technology programs were in the parking lot offering free service for patron’s cars. They checked car fluids, air pressure, and made sure that car inspections were current.
Students from ESBOCES Personal Training, Clinical Medical Assisting, Cosmetology, and the Barbering programs volunteered to come down to Applebee’s to share information about their experiences at ESBOCES. Alexis Felicio, Sachem CSD said, “I love the Clinical Medical Assisting program. My teacher Maryann DeMillio is great. I’m getting trained in a real work environment and the skill and knowledge will help me in college.”
ESBOCES employees Denise Adamo and Grace Ramirez-Wright from the Administration Center attended because they wanted to support the students. Grace said, “Breakfast is my favorite meal and the students are what we are all about.”
Applebee’s Manager Al Bongiorno said, “We are always striving to build community relationships. It’s a pleasure to be a part of a worthwhile cause and help these students attain their goals and have the opportunity to compete up in Syracuse.”
