Students raise dinner funds for 55 local families

Some 63 needy families in the area will have a good Christmas dinner because of the work of the Lake Roosevelt High School Associated Student Body.

The students at Lake Roosevelt sponsored a charity "Crimson and Gold" basketball game late in November and raised over $1,100 after expenses.

ASB advisor Debbie Van Geystel said that Harvest Foods and Ed's Meats helped the fund stretch by giving the students a discount on food and meat.

Last Friday morning,Van Geystel and student body officers were at Harvest Foods reviewing items that had been accumulated for the Christmas dinners. The store's back room had been devoted to large amounts of canned and other goods for the dinners. Turkey breasts, potatoes, jello and whipped topping, vegetables, dressing, and everything associated with a Christmas dinner were stacked up, 12 items in all for each dinner.

Harvest Foods employees boxed the separate dinners and they were taken to the food bank.

A sign on the front of the store invited customers to take part in the special Christmas dinner project, called "Raider Reach Out." Ray Duclos said the store also sold eight dinners to customers to go with the 55 paid for through the charity basketball game.

The dinners will be dispersed Monday, Dec. 23, through the Care and Share Food Bank.

Lake Roosevelt High School principal Brandon Byers reported to the school board a week ago how hard students worked to develop the program.