We always do a Mexican Food spread. We get parents to brings in cheese, sour cream, lettuce, tomato, salsa, olives, tortillas and chips. The parent Club suppies the paper goods, beans, rice and meat. We serve shredded chicken, and ground beef, kept warm in crock pots. It cost us about $200.00 to serve just over 100 staff members. They love it and it is fairly easy. It only takes one volunteer to be there. This year we might add another volunteer to make and serve non-alcoholic margaritas. Sounds fun, but messy and extra work.
Lots of great ideas - thanks everyone! Mykidsmom - we have 30 staff members - but how did you do a BBQ for that many for only $200?? Do tell... Thanks!!
Not knowing how big your staff is, I can tell you I fed 60-75 staff members a huge simple BBQ lunch for around $200! We all had a blast and the teachers and staff enjoyed lunch outside in the sun for a change and asked if I could come every week!! This year I will need to ask for donations and will have to do more of a potluck style lunch but they'll love it anyway!!
(I love the car wash idea but we can't even water our landscaping due to very tight water restictions here in Colorado.)
Last year we brought in muffins, bagels, cookies, etc and set it up in the faculty lounge so they could munch all day. I also sent letters to local companies asking for any kind of donation and we raffled these off all week long. The teachers loved it.
Last year we did a car wash for the entire staff. We have two schools, so we tackled it on two seperate days (because of a lack of volunteers, surprise!). Anyway, everyone loved it. We set up in a cornor of the parking lot and had a runner go get keys from teachers and staff members. It was fun and very appreciated. We will be doing it again this year (even with a lack of volunteers)
We also made a flyer instructing the kids to bring a flower on Monday, chocolate on Tuesday, a homemade card on Wednesday, classroom supplies on Thursday and had the kids wear their teachers favorite color on Friday. We, the parent club supplies a vase for the flowers, We got these donated by local businesses.
