Local VFW raises $50,000
By Angie Landsverk
During the last Green Bay Packers’ season, the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post raised $50,000 for itself and other nonprofits through the volunteers who worked at Lambeau Field concession stands.
“You have to be a nonprofit in order to work there, so all the money comes back into the community,” said Wayne Eisentraut, commander of VFW Post 1037.
Delaware North provides the food and beverage concessions at Lambeau Field.
Groups earn a percentage of the net sales from their stands.
“It takes 100 nonprofits to run Lambeau Field,” said MaryKay Hills.
She is a member of the post’s auxiliary, and coordinates the local volunteers for the two stands the post runs on game days.
Hills is also a group lead for Delaware North.
“I run the biggest stand on the sound end zone, and we also run a liquor stand,” she said.
Hills does not get paid.
“Veterans run deep in my family,” she said. “I do it because I want to see the VFW strive and continue to help the community.”
Hills learned about the fundraising opportunity a few years ago through Chain O’ Lakes Elementary’s Parent/Teacher Group.
The 2015-16 season was the first one in which Hills volunteered, doing so with the PTG.
The following season, she started volunteering under VFW Post 1037.
“The VFW was losing bingo,” she said. “I approached the VFW (with the idea), and we ran with it ever since.”
The first year Hills volunteered with the PTG, she was in a small, six-person stand.
When she started volunteering for the VFW post, Delaware North moved her to a different one.
After being there one year, Delaware North told her there was an opportunity to move to the first floor and make more money.
“We had a conversation about taking it on,” Hills said. “We pulled it off, and we’re still growing.”
It takes 30 people per game to cover both stands.
“We have gone up with as high as 50 to 60 people,” she said.
Game days
Nonprofits work at the concession stands during Family Night, the two pre-season games and eight regular season games.
If the Packers make the playoffs, groups are able to raise more money.
For noon games, area volunteers meet at ThedaCare Hospital-Waupaca at 6:30 a.m. to carpool.
Others may meet them at Lambeau Field.
The local volunteers arrive back in Waupaca around 7:30-8 p.m.
“You do come home with what I call the ‘Lambeau Field Hangover,’” Hills said. “It’s fun work, but you’re on your feet. You come home exhausted.”
Frannie Packingham agrees.
The first time she worked at a game, Packingham said she was so sore she was unable to work the next day.
Hills said the VFW Post pulls volunteers from throughout the area.
“If you want to volunteer, contact me,” she said.
Hills may be reached at 920-284-0654.
People take an online test, and may take it more than once if they do not pass it on the first try.
Volunteers must bring an ID to every game.
Hills trains them as they work.
Those who are 14-18 years old may work with food. Hills said her children are getting involved in helping.
The food and beverage stand is one-half supper club and one-half burgers, she said.
There are two large grills for cooking burgers and brats, and also six fryers for multiple items.
“On an average game, we sell 500 pounds of cheese curds,” Hills said. “We have to fry 1,000 burgers to make double burgers, and 400 brats. Those are our big sellers.”
On cold days, the stand goes through 120 gallons of hot chocolate.
A teen works that part of the stand.
When it is extremely busy, two people handle it.
Checks, balances
Since the funds raised are based on the inventory sold, Hills and Packingham go to Lambeau Field the Fridays before games to count the inventory in both stands.
They do the same thing at the end of the games.
Hills said the food and beverage stand averages about $32,000 in sales per game, and the liquor stand averages about $10,000.
“If you work a game, you will get at least $125 toward your organization,” she said. “For one game, the volunteers each received $220 toward their organization.”
One person raised about $800 for the Waupaca Police Department after volunteering at several games last season.
“It’s going to stay in the community and do community things,” said Police Chief Brian Hoelzel.
The department sponsors the Bread Basket twice a year.
He said it will cost about $600 for the department to purchase the food for the two dinners.
The other funds will go toward adopting a family at Christmas, Hoelzel said.
Of the $50,000 raised at the VFW stands this past season, almost $21,000 remained with Post 1037.
“The money mainly goes to scholarships,” said Eisentraut.
He said the post provides two scholarships to Waupaca High School graduates and two to Iola-Scandinavia High School graduates.
It also uses the funds to cover expenses for its hall, and to support programs like Wreaths Across America.
“We do a lot for the community that nobody really sees,” said Eisentraut.
All funds raised during the season go to the VFW and are then dispersed to local nonprofits – based on the volunteers.
That takes place during the appreciation party the post holds for the volunteers and their families.
Hills donates all the funds she raises to the local VFW.
The Waupaca Rotary Club, Girls Scouts, Waupaca Park and Rec and Waupaca FFA are among the organizations that have received funds.
Delaware North also throws an appreciation party for everyone who works at the games.
The VFW is always looking for more volunteers.
Hills said it is hard work, but there are a few perks.
For some, it is an opportunity to see Lambeau Field.
She always takes volunteers out to see at least one play.
That usually happens around the beginning of the fourth quarter, when it is slower in the stands.
This year, there is an extra date on the Lambeau Field calendar.
It is the Paul McCartney concert on June 8.
“We will again need a small army,” Hills said. “We will be working at the biggest stand on the north end. You get music and food.”