Enjoy Lunch at APS Building to Help Out Clothing Bank

Proceeds from Texas Roadhouse meal benefits students in need

February 9, 2012

A hot meal and a warm feeling are available for just $5 on Valentine’s Day at the Alice & Bruce King Educational Complex (formerly City Centre). The APS Family Engagement Specialists are teaming up with Texas Roadhouse for a special fundraising event to benefit the BCCPTA Clothing Bank.

Tuesday’s Warming Children’s Hearts lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. will send $3 from each ticket sold to the clothing bank, which provides clothing, school supplies and other necessities for students in need. Diners will receive a sandwich, side of beans, fresh-baked cookie and a beverage. About 225 tickets have already been sold.

The event was created from a brainstorming conversation between Deborah Pohl, a family engagement specialist, and local Texas Roadhouse manager H.B. Garcia. A longtime Join-a-School partner, Garcia was looking for new ways for his restaurant to help APS students. They hope this will become an annual event.

“We’re all local and have kids who go to school here,” Garcia said of his staff. “We know that helping kiddos can make a difference and we want to help.”

While Garcia provides the food and Pepsi the beverages, Pohl is coordinating the rest. Volunteers—including parents and other family engagement specialists—from Albuquerque High feeder schools will help serve. Veronica Medina’s AHS culinary arts students are baking the cookies.

Ever since the economy tumbled, student and family need for donated clothing and supplies continues to increase. The clothing bank has had difficulty keeping enough items on the shelves. Warming Children’s Hearts and committed community partners will give it a boost.

“There’s no red tape involved, just the building of a relationship,” Pohl said. “It’s been amazing.”