One of the biggest fundraisers comes next Friday with the Jail and Bail in which arrestees raise $250 to post bond, money which adds to the effort to provide the graduating seniors a place to celebrate their accomplishments.
“It’s to provide a safe environment for kids after graduation,” said Christy Johnson, one of this year’s chairs. “It’s an alcohol-free party. It provides a variety of activities and entertainment.”
This year’s lineup includes a hypnotist, inflatable amusements, a bull-riding machine, a photo booth and DJ.
Food and drinks for the event at T.J. Davis are provided by businesses.
(For more information on the Jail and Bail or other upcoming events in the fundraising effort contact Johnson at 252-676-9749, Tammy Colston at 252-532-9187 or Susan Baker at 252-203-4001)
“Project Graduation is a totally self-supporting program. It receives no funding from the school budget,” says this year’s donation solicitation letter for the event. “It is only through the generosity of parents, town’s people, the Roanoke Valley businesses, businesses in surrounding communities and the religious community that we have been able to host Project Graduation.”
Next Friday, in conjunction with the school’s homecoming festivities, the jail will be set up across from the high school. Jail and Bail will be from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Forty-five people have already volunteered to be jailed, Johnson said, and the organizers are looking for more. Once arrested, the arrestee must post $250 to get out, either by posting the money themselves or by calling friends to help them out. “You’re doing it for the community,” Johnson said, “To help our students have a safe post-graduation evening.”
The Roanoke Rapids Police Department and Halifax County Sheriff’s Office helps out, Johnson said.
The fundraising efforts continue at the homecoming game that evening with Tracy Storey collecting funds as he wears a prison jumpsuit.
While one of the biggest fundraisers for the June 8 project, other efforts are already underway and more will be upcoming.
There is a candy drive ongoing. There will also be a raffle ticket sale for a $165 gift bag the night of the homecoming game.
The Belk Fall Charity Sale is underway and organizers have tickets for that event.
On October 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be a car wash and bake sale at New Dixie BP on Old Farm Road. Also on that day at the New Dixie-Dairy Queen on Julian R. Allsbrook Highway students will be on hand to pump gas and clean windshields for donations. “We are very appreciative of Scott and Renee Aman of New Dixie for allowing us to do the car wash at the Old Farm BP and allowing us to have the students at the store on Julian R. Allsbrook,” Johnson said. “We are extremely grateful they are allowing us to have 10 percent of the Dairy Queen sales, gas sales and the automatic car wash sale.”
A barbecue sandwich bag lunch sale is planned October 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Harvest Temple on West Tenth Street. Turkey barbecue sandwiches will also be available.
Also ongoing is an email solicitation effort where students enter up to 10 emails for donations.
The annual Thanksgiving pie sale is upcoming later in the fall.
Roanoke Rapids is only one of six schools in the state to carry on the Project Graduation tradition, Johnson said.
Project Graduation meetings, held every other Tuesday, have seen good turnout. The next meeting is October 3 at the media center of the high school at 6 p.m.
Planning begins before school starts and the involvement of parents has been a key to its success. “These parents work hard for these kids. This has been nonstop even before school starts. It’s hard work. It consumes most of our free time but it’s worth it for the kids,” Johnson said.
