If it were a basketball game it would be called “Pack the Place Night.”
At McDonald’s restaurants, it’s called McTeacher’s Night and, like the local high school gym, you’d be hard pressed to find a seat during the two-hour fundraising event.
McTeacher’s Night has been around for many years. According to its website, McDonald’s “hopes to maximize educational experiences for schools in the community,” by hosting the events.
It works this way.
Students and family members and friends are invited to dine at McDonald’s for a two-hour period, usually during dinner time, from 5 to 7 p.m. A percentage of total sales for that period, including to customers who come in or drive through, goes to the school.
In addition, the school gets 100% of the sale of the first 100 packets containing two of McDonald’s popular chocolate chip cookies. Each packet sells for $1. After that, all proceeds from cookie sales go into the total for the event.
Teachers dine and mingle with students and their families, selling cookies and getting to know their school families.
Wethersfield Elementary’s parent-teacher organization, PATT, was recently presented a check for $825 from a McTeacher Night they held on Oct. 29. Their percentage of total sales for the two-hour fundraiser was $725 with $100 added for reaching the 100 cookie packet sales goal. Wethersfield second grade had the most attendance and won apples and juice from McDonald’s.
Not counting drive-thru, Wethersfield Elementary’s turnout was estimated at over 100 in a dining area that seats 123.
WES Principal Kyle Dennison said the money will be used to sponsor field trips, purchase classroom supplies for teachers and other efforts sponsored by PATT.
Laura Evans, reading specialist at WES who accepted the check on behalf of Wethersfield PATT, said everyone had a great time at this year’s McTeacher’s Night where the highlight was a surprise visit from the hairy, purple McDonald’s mascot, Grimace, who was a big hit with the kids.
Trina Gendron, owner of the Kewanee McDonald’s, and locations in Geneseo, Monmouth, Aledo, Rock Island and Milan, said they started McTeacher’s Nights in 2013 and usually host 12 or 13 events a year in their six locations.
Kewanee McDonald’s General Manager Lisa Johnston said any elementary school in the Kewanee and Wethersfield school districts and Visitation Catholic School are invited to participate in a McTeacher’s Night and hopes more local elementary schools take part in the future.
