Our PTA sponsors a Happy Cart for our faculty and staff at HCES twice a month. We are always looking for volunteers to host the cart!

 

HERE IS HOW IT WORKS:

• Sign up for a day that works with your schedule

• Contact the other "hosts" if anyone else signed up with you

• Pick a "theme" and the food/beverages/treats you want to provide

  • PTA has plates, napkins, soft drinks, bottled water, and utensils in the PTA closet that you can use​

• Prepare your Happy Cart for around 80-100 Faculty and Staff 

• Arrive at the school at 7:30 am on your scheduled date

• After you check in at the front office, get the closet key from the front desk, then go to the PTA closet (in the cafeteria) to get your cart set up (if you need an extra cart, you can find them upstairs in the media room behind the library)

  • PTA has plates, napkins, soft drinks, bottled water, and utensils in the PTA closet that you can use ​

• Once your cart is set up, start with the cafeteria ladies so they can enjoy before serving lunch, then head into the middle school to serve the Fourth Grade Teachers in middle school, Gate and Art. After that, go around the elementary school and include all teachers, staff, front office etc. (SEE MAP BELOW)

• When you are done, clean up the cart and put away items. If you have extra food that you would like to leave, you can leave it in the media room upstairs

• ​Make sure you return the key to the office!

• Complete the PTA reimbursement form and turn in receipts​​​

  • PTA will reimburse up to $100 per cart

  • The reimbursement form can be found HERE

 

A few helpful reminders to make your Happy Cart a success!

•  Planning & Food Quantities

  • Plan for around 125-150 people. (while we have around 80 faculty and staff, but we always have extra subs, support staff, etc.). Some staff will just grab a drink, while others will load up their plates!

  • When in doubt, overbuy! It’s better to have a little extra than to run out of food.

  • Offer a mix of sweet and savory options. Staff really appreciate having savory choices available, not just sweets.

  • Don’t forget dietary needs. Try to include gluten-free and/or dairy-free options.

  • Stock up on fruit! Fruit goes FAST, so be sure to buy plenty.

•  Drinks & Caffeine

  • Coffee is always a great option! Dunkin’ sells boxes of coffee for around $20 each. Plan on approximately 1½ boxes for 150 people.

  • Energy drinks are a fun addition! Include a variety if your budget allows.

  • Remember the caffeine-free crowd! Surprisingly, a lot of staff mentioned being caffeine-free. Some alternative drink options besides water and soft drinks are hot tea and hot chocolate, so you could consider offering one or both!

•  Supplies & Setup Checklist

  • The PTA closet has lots of extra supplies, so check there before purchasing anything new!

    • Cutlery, Napkins, Coffee stirrers

    • Paper towels for spills

    • Trash bags

    • Signage for your cart

    • Serving spoons and tongs

•  Final Tips

  • Check the PTA closet before shopping to avoid buying supplies you already have.

  • Make the cart easy to navigate, with drinks, food, napkins, and utensils readily accessible.

  • Label food items when possible, especially gluten-free and dairy-free options.

  • Keep extra food and supplies nearby so you can restock as needed.

• The goal: A happy, well-fed staff with plenty of choices, a little caffeine, and something delicious for everyone to enjoy!