Frying up the dollars

Deirdre Newman

Kindergarten teacher Kelly Dever can adroitly manage a room full of

rambunctious students, but give her a ladle full of fries and some

cardboard boxes and she really has to work at it.

“It’s hard,” said Dever, who was working up a sweat as she practiced

salting with a triple arching motion as directed.

Dever and her colleagues from Sonora Elementary School spent Thursday

evening at a McDonald’s in Costa Mesa as part of an educational

fund-raiser.

They greeted customers, worked the register and assisted with food

preparation.

Close to 1,200 restaurants in 14 states participated in the annual

event to raise money for teachers. Sonora Principal Lorie Hoggard said

the effort usually nets about $300 for her school. The money is used for

classroom materials.

“It’s a great way to get our families together and foster school

spirit,” Hoggard said. “And the students get to see their teachers

outside of their normal environment.”

Kindergartner Grant Arehart could hardly contain his enthusiasm at

seeing his teacher, Peggy Phan-Nguyen, behind the counter as he munched

on his favorite, Chicken McNuggets.

“It’s fun because I get to see her at nighttime,” Grant said.

Grant’s mom, Jeanne, said she brought her family to help support the

teachers.

“It’s great to raise money for the school and, best of all, I don’t

have to cook,” Arehart said.

McDonald’s hosts the annual event because of its tradition of giving

back to the community, said Virginia Mangione, owner of the Costa Mesa

McDonald’s.

Sonora PTA President Michelle Neal said the fund-raiser is especially

helpful because the money will go directly to the teachers.

“It helps them get the little things they need,” Neal said.

The money raised is deposited by the restaurant with the district,

which then funnels it to the school.

The teachers also gain a newfound respect for the well-choreographed

art of fast-food preparation.

“I have a deeper appreciation for McDonald’s now,” said Phan-Nguyen.