Making pizzas and a profit

St. Francis Xavier School homemade pizza sale fundraiser benefits church

Jaclyn Thessen, in the yellow shirt, works with volunteers at St. Francis Xavier School to distribute pizzas for the school's annual spring fundraiser. To her left is Brenda Christy, who helps coordinate the sale with B.C. & Company, and Sheila Hair is on the right. Thessen hoped the fundraiser would bring in $14,000, which will go to the church.
Jaclyn Thessen, in the yellow shirt, works with volunteers at St. Francis Xavier School to distribute pizzas for the school's annual spring fundraiser. To her left is Brenda Christy, who helps coordinate the sale with B.C. & Company, and Sheila Hair is on the right. Thessen hoped the fundraiser would bring in $14,000, which will go to the church.

Like the biblical story of the fish and loaves of bread, fresh pizzas were multiplying before people's eyes at St. Francis Xavier School on Sunday.

Only this was no miracle - just 110 volunteers dedicated to raising funds for the church.

"It's our way to give back to the parish for all the support they provide us (at the school) throughout the year," said Jaclyn Thessen, who coordinated the fundraiser.

The volunteers, mostly parents of St. Francis students and fifth- through eighth-grade students, started making the pizzas in an assembly-line fashion at 9 a.m. By 11 a.m., they were wrapping and boxing the pizzas, as well as cookie dough and pastries, to deliver to people in the community who pre-ordered the items.

The group made 1,600 pizzas with toppings ranging from cheese to meat to taco fixings. Each pizza sold for $12. Cookie dough went for $14, and pastries ranged from $12-14.

The fundraiser brought in 2,607 preorders: 1,497 pizzas, 722 cookie doughs and 388 pastries. The extras will be sold this week to anyone who wants more, Thessen said.

"I've been doing this since I was going to school here. I like it. We do what we can," said Jeff Pleus, who was boxing up pizzas with his 6-year-old son, Caden.

Thessen said that after expenses, the fundraising group hopes to net $14,000 for the church.