Doughnuts, World’s Finest chocolates and pastelitos aren’t just a tasty treat for students to enjoy between classes; they’re the fundraisers that booster clubs work furiously at.

Eager parents of athletes and coaches meet at least once a year to gather fundrasing ideas, whether it be selling coupon books or working a concession stand at home games.

Baseball’s booster club president, Barbara Gener Lopez said, “it’s fun, but it’s a lot of work between bringing coolers and setting tables up.” She admits that the players do most of the work.

According to “Guidelines for Booster Clubs,” students assist with the booster club fundraisers as long as the activities director, principal and region superintendent approve them.

Sophomore Genevieve Napolitano believes allowing players to assist with fundraising is a great idea because, “fundraising is a good source of income, and it incorporates the players and their goals.”

A popular fundraiser is having players and coaches sell food. Junior Harmoni Marzo said, “Selling candy is a good fundraiser, but it’s a lot of work because you only have two weeks to sell it, so you have to pick the most popular candy or else it won’t sell.”

Girl’s basketball, raises money by selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts. “Fat free doughnuts,” Coach Ray Thompson jokes, “the fat is free.”

However, fundraising isn’t limited to selling food.

For example, girl’s soccer will be holding a car wash, football will be selling seat cushions, and the wrestling team will be earning most of their money by spending their Sundays directing cars at Pro- Player stadium in the heat.

The boy’s cross country team will be entering the Parker Gulfstream mile fundraiser, a large, corporate fundraiser televised on ESPN.

Boy’s cross country coach, Robert Goldberg, jokes, “If we could get permission, we would knock over a bank, but I don’t think the school would allow it.”

Rasied money goes toward uniforms, equipment, banquets, awards, training camps and special tournaments.

The boys’ cross-country team will be entering in special, invite-only meets, and the wrestling team will be traveling to Key West, Orlando, Tampa and Tennessee this year.

No matter what the fundraiser is, it is unanimous that fundraising is an important part of having a team.

Junior Steve Rosenberg said, “Selling pastelitos is hard, but even if it’s hard, it’s worth it at the end.”