We make dough. Literally.
In order to provide for the fiscal needs of both our chapters and all of our individual members, Ludington BPA produces one product fundraiser and multiple service fundraisers throughout the course of the year. With the many ways we are able to help our students develop and grow, comes a price. Individually, members must pay for membership dues at the local, state and national levels, and are responsible for the costs of attending leadership conferences, at the Regional, State and National levels as well. While in both OJ and LHS chapters we have a non discrimination policy and encourage students from all economic, religious, and ethnic backgrounds to join our organization, their ability to fundraise allows them to fully take advantage of everything BPA has to offer. Generally speaking, both chapters are also responsible for putting on social events throughout the year for the students, and a portion of the proceeds we make goes into the general fund for such needs. Aside from financial implications, though our fundraisers, members are able to again and apply the skills we aim to develop through BPA in hands on situations.
PRODUCT FUNDRAISER
Holiday Pies
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Our sole product fundraiser is the Holiday Pie Fundraiser, the first of which began in 2014. We start out the year with this particular fundraiser in order to help our chapters earn the money they will need for events going forward throughout the year. All parts of this process are handled directly by our middle and high school members! This not only includes sales and distribution, but the entire process of producing the pies and packaging them. All of our pies are made through the dedication and hard work of our members, as well as their family and friends on a single day affectionately known to our membership as "Pie Day". Upon which we create an assembly line in the high school cafeteria and make 750 pies homemade pies in less than eight hours. During this process, members are able to learn various food preparation skills, from making the dough to assembling the boxes, witness the ins and outs of a production line, and organize workers as well as handle customer purchases.
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SERVICE FUNDRAISERS
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Movies in the Park For the past ten years, Ludington BPA has maintained the concessions at the annual "Movies in the Park" series of events produced by the City of Ludington in August at Ludington's Municipal Park. With help from Hungry Howies, Ludington council members and the Ludington Police Department as well as numerous other individuals, high school and middle school BPA members serve the public for the duration of each event. Students are able to take advantage of this invaluable experience where they can sharpen numerous skills in a "hands-on", real world environment. While serving the community, our students obtain knowledge pertaining to food preparation, customer service and monetary transactions. With these responsibilities, members as young as eleven years old are able to learn valuable skills that cannot be taught in a classroom, and participate in one of Ludington's most beloved traditions.
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Disc Golf for Haiti Every year Ludington BPA partners with Saint Simons of Ludington to run the concessions at the Disc Golf for Haiti fundraiser. Ludington BPA is paid a flat flee to work the event, while all proceeds are sent to a school in Haiti. Members are able to improve their operational and customer service skills, using a different menu and in a different environment, while being able to provide for those in need at the same time. All funds raised are donated to the School of the Infant Jesus in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. This event has become a summer highlight for Ludington BPA members!
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Valentine's Dance The second service fundraiser that involves all of our Ludington BPA members is the Annual Valentines Dance held at OJ DeJonge for students in 6th thru 8th grade. In this process, the middle school members are much more involved in the operation, as they take care of the promotion, ticket sales, and data tracking, while the high school members provide assistance when needed as well as moral support. The importance of this fundraiser lies more within its ability to create leadership skills within the younger students, as they're able to take control and operate things with much less supervision than children of their age usually receive. High school members are much more active during the actual dance, working or chaperoning, allowing students from both chapters to bond, an integral part in inter-chapter relations. Throughout the process, students are most often confronted with having to solve problems quickly and together, in the most professional way possible.
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Activity Nights In 2015, we were approached by the Principal of OJ DeJonge Middle School to help direct the regularly scheduled "Activity Nights" held at the middle school. These events are meant to provide an opportunity for middle school students to interact socially in a safe environment. Ludington BPA was tasked with improving the quality of said events, making them just as fun but also educational and creating a positive environment. Aside from planning different activities such as visiting Sandcastles Children's Museum, Trunk or Treat, and Mystery Theater, members also operate the concessions to provide the middle school students with healthy and enjoyable snacks during each event.
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