A chicken deal? Chain to provide grub at game
Staff writer
Marion sporting events have seen many changes in recent months but High school principal Donald Raymer hopes to make a positive one by serving 575 Chic-fil-A meals at Friday’s homecoming as concessions.
“It’s nothing against anything local,” he said. “It’s available, it’s an opportunity, and they sell them to us for a little bit of a discount so we can make a bit of money for our basketball teams.”
Carlsons’ Grocery co-owner Greg Carlson said he was aware of the decision but declined further comment.
The meals are coming from a Chic-fil-A restaurant in Wichita, where Raymer ate three years ago and met the owner. Seeing that a school fundraiser was going on, Raymer asked about doing something similar for Centre, where Raymer was a principal at the time.
Raymer thinks it is an opportunity to bring a rare treat to the community. He will pick the meals up in several warmers to be transported to Marion in his vehicle.
“With COVID-19 going on, I thought it was a good way to provide some food at a football game that was prepared and individually wrapped,” he said. “We can serve chips and bottled drinks and not really touch any of the food.”
Concessions regulations for teams in the Heart of America league are at the discretion of each district, according to the HOA.
The $7 meal will include an original chicken sandwich, bottle of water and bag of chips. Marion teachers will receive complimentary meals as part of the district’s teacher appreciation, Raymer said.
“It’s something you can’t regularly get here,” he said. “You have to travel to Salina, Wichita, or Manhattan to get one.”
Individual sandwiches also will be for sale but those will cost $6 each.
Any leftover meals will be sold at a reduced price.