Thinking about music and restaurants might bring images of the Hard Rock Caf? to mind. Other places make use of a radio or jukebox, but the patrons of Pete’s Coney Island II had a different type of entertainment while they ate.
Members of the Clarkston Junior High School Choir provided their voices for four hours, during which they performed Christmas carols and helped the staff by working as assistant hostesses and waitresses. The patrons were treated to special entertainment, the staff received extra help with their work and the students earned tips to go toward their group’s funds.
The idea came from a class project for two students. Ninth-graders Christine Neal and Lyndsey Sirbought needed to come up with a community service project idea for their US History class. Both students are also members of the CJHS choir. Neal said the choir was running low on general funds, so she suggested a service project that would help them make the grade and help the choir.
‘Since the choir was nearly out of money we decided to do a fund-raiser,? Neal said.
‘It’s just something fun for the community,? said Briana Selberg, one of the performing students.
Ed Zull, the owner of Pete’s Coney Island II agreed.
‘Youth is our future. It’s really important to be community orientated,? Zull said.
Zull said he has offered to host similar events for other groups including the Lions and Toys for Tots.
‘This is a way we can give back to our community.?
Zull said he sees the events as a nice trade-off, with his employees getting some extra help for the evening, and the students getting to keep the tips.
Nearly two dozen students volunteered to help with the event, taking turns working one-hour shifts and singing. When the event was over, the group raised more than $500, which Neal said will go toward purchasing new equipment for the choir.
CJHS Choir Director Danielle Blanchard said this is the first time the choir has done anything like this for a fund-raising effort, but liked the idea because it helped the students get experience singing in front of groups of people. A similar fund-raiser is already being planned for the spring.