Hi, We do a catered lunch for about that number of people. We use olive garden and order off their catering menu. We spend about $300 for 45 people! They love the food and you save $700. Our local olive garden offers us a discount. Also you don't need to order for 45 since it's way too much food. We pick up drinks and dessert at the grocery store because it's much cheaper there. Hope this helps. You both win!
Seriously, they want a catered lunch. $1,000
I do not know where your school is, but I
smell entitlement. What teachers and or principal
would pressure a volunteer, parent organization to
do something like this. Where is the gratitude and
appreciation... it goes both ways.
Teachers are worthy of appreciation and should be recognized. The potluck sounds great especially since it shows that parents are willing to give up their time to contribute to it. Has anyone considered asking a restaurant, grocery store, or catering company if they would donate for the luncheon? Then the money could be spent on things that would benefit the kids like school supplies, etc.
You may also want to seek donations from local restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries, etc. Local businesses are usually willing and enthusiastic about supporting their neighborhood school, especially during TA Week, and their contributions can help offset your out-of-pocket costs in a huge way.
What are they buying for $1000.00? Thats $20.00 a person. Most restauants will give you a discount if you call in advance and tell them what it's for. We catered a scout dinner(6 ft sub, bbq, fried chicken with all the sides, ice tea the restauant gave us all the plates,forks etc plus gave us a dessert ) for 40 people for $250.00 and had leftovers. I say buy books and or other things the teachers need for the classrooms.
As a teacher, I say keep your lunch! How good could it REALLY be? Use the money to improve technology or buy materials that will help the students become better readers. At my school they regulate how many copies teachers can make. Put the $1000 towards paper or toner, or a new copy machine! Any lunch I've had was subs and pizza, so I can't imagine $1000 lunch being all that.
