Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers Association Raises $6,400 for Local Food Pantry

For years, District 47 has been participating in an unusual fundraising opportunity in the fall. Every November, teachers, staff and administrators are invited to make donations to the Crystal Lake Food Pantry in exchange for an opportunity to don their favorite weekend-wear--jeans!--at work. The Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers Association (CLETA) started the Fall Jeans Day fundraiser nearly a decade ago in an effort to raise awareness and funds for the local food pantry.

According to past CLETA co-president Shari Chakoian, the fundraiser has evolved. “At first, each school did their own project for the pantry, like luncheons or raffles,” she said. “Then, during my first few years as co-president, it evolved into jeans days.” Chakoian said they had heard that other schools were raising a lot of money with little effort with a jeans days fundraiser, so the teacher’s organization asked to adopt the idea. The fundraiser has grown in popularity every year since. Four years ago, due to the fundraiser’s success, CLETA was able to bring a mobile food pantry to the First Congregational Church in Crystal Lake and provided the manpower to staff it.

This fall, the District 47 teachers’ association raised $6,400 for the pantry. According to CLETA co-president Jean Bowman, one of the fundraiser’s organizers, “We are thrilled to know we’ve made a tremendous impact for the Crystal Lake community.” Bowman says the popular fundraiser will be repeated in March, with proceeds going this time to a scholarship fund for students pursuing a degree in education.