Restaurant chips in to support school
Published 10:24 pm Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Valle Grande Mexican Grill cashier hostess Ellen Wilson labels a flyer representing a $1 donation mid May after a customer gives a dollar to Valley Grande Elementary School.
VALLEY GRANDE — Valley Grande Elementary School’s mission to update its computer equipment may become a reality with some support from a local restaurant.
Valle Grande Mexican Grill is accepting donations to benefit Valley Grande Elementary School until June 30. For every dollar given, the donor may place a name on a flier announcing the donation, and those fliers will be posted inside of the restaurant.
“We, like schools, are always asking others to help, but very few people actually approach us wanting to help,” said Stacie Wells, a third grade teacher and Parent Teacher Organization president at Valley Grande Elementary. “That was a breath of fresh air.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, the restaurant has received about $200 in donations, Valle Grande Mexican Grill owner Miguel Sanchez said.
Wells said the school is not expecting or hoping for any certain amount, but administrators plan to use the money to fund the project to replace and revamp computers and adapters to connect to school’s smart boards. Wells said the PTO has raised approximately $10,000, and the fundraiser will help add to the total.
Sanchez said the blessing he has received throughout his life has driven his desire to give back to the community.
“When God provides to you many beautiful things in your life, you realize how blessed you are and want to share blessings,” Sanchez said.
Paula Stover, a family friend of the Sanchez family, said Sanchez has given his time and effort to support various organizations throughout the Dallas County community, such as a the Selma-Dallas County Sav-A-Life organization and the Warren Manor Health and Rehabilitation Center.
“It’s a way to help the community and give back to local kids,” Stover said.
Both Sanchez and Wells said Valle Grande Mexican Grill might hold regular fundraisers to benefit Valley Grande Elementary School in the future.
“We’re kind of using this one just to kind of test the waters, so to speak, to see what type of response we get, so that we can use this to build a better plan for when we do it next school year,” Wells said.
