'Up North' bus hopes to keep on rollin'
For commuters who drive south on Highway 371 to Brainerd each weekday morning, this yellow bus may be a familiar sight.
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And for the past seven years, the "Up North" bus has delivered children from Pine River, Pequot Lakes and Nisswa to St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School in Brainerd.
The bus provides about 20 lakes area students a ride to school. For many families, if they didn't have the "Up North" bus, they wouldn't have the ability to send their children to the Brainerd parochial school.
A St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School student boarded the "Up North" bus in Brainerd. A fund-raiser will be held Saturday to help pay the costs for the bus, which transports students from Pine River, Pequot Lakes and Nisswa to the Brainerd parochial school.
"It's a long distance drive and they did some carpooling (before the bus was offered) but this is much more convenient for them," said St. Francis Principal Deb Euteneuer.
But the bus costs money, which is why supporters of the St. Francis bus are hosting the third annual Tables of Plenty luncheon noon Saturday at the Nisswa Community Center. Money raised by the event is used solely for the "Up North" bus.
If you go
What: Third annual Tables of Plenty luncheon
Purpose: Fund-raiser for "Up North" bus
When: Noon (table viewing) and 1 p.m. (lunch) Saturday
Where: Nisswa Community Center
Menu: Chicken salad, Caesar salad, fruit and a brownie with a strawberry glaze
Tickets: $25
Phone: (218) 587-3088.
Euteneuer said when the bus was first purchased by the school, a few parents drove the bus to keep expenses down. Now the bus has a part-time driver. With maintenance, bus driver wages and other associated costs, the bus costs $15,000-$17,000 a year to operate. Each bus family pays $400 a year for their children to ride the bus and they work to host fund-raisers to help with the costs. Euteneuer said parents usually raise about half the bus' annual costs each year.
Tina Henneken, whose second-grade daughter, Jessica, rides the "Up North" bus, said she and the other parents decided they didn't want to do a typical school fund-raiser, like sell magazines or pizzas. Instead, she came up with the idea for a Tables of Plenty fund-raiser. A similar event was held each year in her hometown of Bowdle, S.D.
The past two years the Tables of Plenty luncheon has sold out and continues to grow, said Henneken. The first year they had 14 hostesses who decorated each table with a variety of themes. The second year they had 22 hostesses with a record 155 guests. This year, Tables of Plenty was moved to Nisswa Community Center from its original location at St. Christopher's Catholic Church basement because they needed more space.
A St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School student boarded the "Up North" bus in Brainerd. A fund-raiser will be held Saturday to help pay the costs for the bus, which transports students from Pine River, Pequot Lakes and Nisswa to the Brainerd parochial school.
Henneken said the benefit luncheon allows families and friends to gather together for a fun afternoon together to support a good cause. The hostesses have planned a variety of table themes, from elegant to whimsical. Some table themes for Saturday's fund raiser include the Kentucky Derby, Star Wars, Women of the Northwoods and more.
"This fund-raiser, it's kind of a community thing," said Henneken. "I can't believe how many people are talking about it."
A Bus Stop Boutique also will be available with many handcrafted or homegrown items available for purchase. Henneken said the boutique is reminiscent of an old-fashioned country store. Several area businesses have donated items for the raffle and live auction, as well as for the boutique.
Euteneuer said the Tables of Plenty event has become a major fund raiser for the "Up North" bus, which makes one stop in each of the three northern communities on Highway 371.
JODIE TWEED can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.