On Feb. 19, during lunch in the quad, the Associated Student Body (ASB) hosted its anticipated annual Food Faire. Food Faire is a day that most fundraising clubs look forward to every February. Twenty-five clubs participated this year, leading to a full quad of diverse food options and fundraising opportunities.
Senior Jesus Gonzalez, ASB President, explained that they take care of things on the financial side, and plan almost everything beforehand.
“ASB, specifically the officer of clubs and organizations, is in charge of planning and hosting the food fair. The food fair ticket sales, everything that goes on financially, setting up, making sure everything gets here on time. Our commissioner, Ria Singh, has been amazing with it and has planned a great majority of it. Overall, we help ensure that everyone has what they need and what they require.”
Ria Singh, sophomore and Commissioner of Clubs and Organizations, elaborated more on the process of planning.
“We usually send out a bunch of forms to get all the details from the clubs and we also present to all the clubs about all the processes of doing food fair including ticket counting and set up and everything like that. We also have to communicate with the custodians and food staff and let them know that there’s gonna be an event and that we need tables,” Singh noted.
K-Pop Club, one that has historically sold out every year, returned to the scene with their famous tteokbokki.
“I hope that we can sell out, and I hope that everyone can try our food because we spent a long time making it,” senior Kelly Chung, Vice-President of the K-Pop Club
Chung also explained why specifically tteokbokki is their way to go.
“We chose tteokbokki because we are a K-pop club and we believe that Korean food is just the staple of it.”
A brand new club, the Hispanic Heritage Club came in with their homemade horchata. President Veena Sundaramoorthy, senior, made the beverage from scratch. “I chose horchata because we’re a Hispanic Heritage Club and it’s pretty simple to make on the spot. It’s pretty cheap,” Sundaramoorthy explained.
Sundaramoorthy also recounted last year, which was her first year participating in Food Faire.
“Last year was really fun because there’s so much to do and it’s so hectic. We sold out last year and we had a lot of people. It’s kinda stressful, but it was fun. I feel like I have a little job.”
This year, Key Club brought french fries from the Rosemead Quickly to the quad.
Jason Shao, president of Key Club, explained part of Key Club’s reasoning for the food choice.
“Most people would like French fries, I think it’s something that appeals to a lot of people’s tastes. It’s not something that’s distinct, necessarily. I think everybody would enjoy some french fries as a snack.”
At the end of the year, Key Club hosts a banquet for their members. During this banquet, awards are given to the members who have served the most hours, miscellaneous officer awards, and to celebrate those who are going to be the officers for the next year. Funds from Food Faire would support the banquet, their membership system, graduation cords, and other Key Club services.
The Home Economics Club sold meatball subs.
“We just feel like when people sell food, they usually sell small snacks. So, we’re thinking, ‘let’s do actual food that kids will be more tempted to buy,’” stated senior Julissa Pena.
“Our main goal is to teach kids how to cook so I think it would get that crowd, be really good for our club overall, and get more people excited about cooking and developing good skills.”
Community Compass sold walking tacos.
President Chase Ong, junior, led the initiative.
“I feel like having that as our item every year would be kind of iconic.” Ong explains that funds would go to hygiene kits for their club filled with items such as soap, deodorant, and lotion.
Food Faire is a great opportunity for fundraising clubs and sports to reach financial goals and for buyers to support them.
