Many businesses have had to shut down

because of economic reasons, such as rising costs, or new competition. Grafton clubs’ cookie sales are similar casulties. Because of rising prices, added restrictions, and the somewhat sudden entry of cookies into the school cafeteria menu, this year clubs have tossed in the apron and given up on cookies, feeling that the profits were not enough to justify the

effort.

Three years ago, cookie sales were a much different matter. Sold three for a dollar, clubs could make anywhere from $50 to $400 dollars profit in a week, according to Mr. Don Samuels, activities director. In addition, clubs could go to the side to sell cookies to the departing middle-schoolers, adding to the profits. This practice was later stopped because “it was causing problems with bus delays. Students were buying cookies instead of getting on the bus,” according to Mr. Royce Hart, principal of operations.

In the years since, things have changed. For one, the cookie supplier raised prices, reducing profits from 55% to 40%. Other problems cropped up. “Last year we had a problem with the theft of the cookie dough from the freezer in the concession stand,” said Mr. Samuels. In addition, the cafeteria began to sell cook-

ies at lunch.

The cafeteria began to sell cookies mid way through the 2001-2002 year to increase their buying capacity. “By selling the cookies, it increases what we can buy. You’re getting good stuff; we don’t serve second-hand stuff,” said Ms. Sandra Darouse. Cookies are sold as an “a la carte item,” meaning they have a minimum level of vitamins and minerals, exempting them from the ban on outside food sales during lunch. Currently there are four varieties sold at Grafton: chocolate chip, M&M, sugar, and macadamia nut. The first two are top sellers, but the latter two flavors are “picking up,” said Ms. Darouse.

A large number of students buy cookies at lunch every day. However numbers have different meanings for the clubs than they do for the cafeteria. “We don’t necessarily consider 300 cookies a whole lot,” said Ms. Darouse. For clubs, however, five days means 1500 cookies, or profits of around $600 a week.

Without cookie sales, clubs are, “forced to seek other ways to raise funds, which are somewhat limited,” according to Mr. Hart. The decision for the cafeteria to sell cookies came from the manager of food services. “It was a shock to all of us when we found out the cafeteria was selling Otis Spunkmeyer,” said Mr. Hart. Despite the problems the loss of cookie sales has created for clubs, the sales are not likely

to end.

“Will the sale of cookies stop after the change [to ARAMARK]. I don’t think that it will. [Cookies] bring in turnaround money to use again,” said Ms. Darouse.

While other fundraising options exist, such as scratch cards, candy sales, car washes, or raffles, some clubs depended on the cookie sales. “I feel bad for the handful of clubs that used cookie sales as a primary source of income,” said Mr. Samuels. Six clubs expressed an interest in continue cookie sales, even with the decreased profit margin and competition from the cafeteria, but six is not enough to extend club sales. Since the end of the last school year, the cafeteria has been the sole supplier of cookies.

While not intentional, the cafeteria was able to out-compete clubs for cookie sales. Backed by the National School Lunch Program, the cafeteria is not reliant on profits from cookies to operate. Cookie sales were a fundraiser for clubs, meaning for them profit was key. Clubs gave up, according to Mr. Samuels because “cookie sales require a great amount of time and effort on the part of the clubs, and the amount of profit they were making wasn’t necessar

ily worth it.”