Pupils cater to voters
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Martinez Elementary student council members Brandon Moore and Taylor Stubblefield help sell lunches to people arriving to vote. One pupil estimated that by 1 p.m., the group already had raised between $200 and $300.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
When Jody Dickson arrived at Martinez Elementary School on Tuesday afternoon to vote, little did he expect to be greeted by a group of children selling food and drinks.
In association with the Martinez Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization, the school's student council sponsored an Election Day Cafe to voters as a fund-raiser to buy new computers for the school.
"I think this was a great idea," said Dickson, a Mar-tinez resident. "I can see where enjoying a snack is a good way to pass the time on the way to the polls."
Setting up at 7 a.m., the children and parents sold muffins and hot coffee to morning voters, then switched to hot dogs, chips and soda for the lunch crowd before closing shop at 2 p.m.
"We should have started sooner," said Melissa Manley, a mother of three children at Martinez Elementary and an organizer of the event. "There was a line stretched all the way around the corner when we got here. There were people waiting in line with their coffee mugs that were grateful to get a refill while helping out the school."
Donna and Jim Lovelace enjoy a lunch served by members of Martinez Elementary's student council. The pupils sold hot dogs, chips and soda to people voting at the school on election day. The proceeds will help pay for computers in the classrooms.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
By 1 p.m., Martinez Elementary fourth-grader and student council member Alex Dailey estimated that he and his friends had already raised $200 to $300.
"The computers we have are really old," he said. "We're hoping we can get some new flat-screens to put in the classrooms."