The past two years saw Mother Nature rain out the City of Plano’s hot air balloon festival and, in doing so, also washed away the Rotary Club of Plano West’s funnel cake fundraiser, a primary source of income.
A few months back, Rotary Club of Allen Sunrise’s president, Bruce Heller, wanted to help Plano West and pitched his idea for a fundraising opportunity at Allen’s pre- July 4 celebration. Planning soon became reality when Allen Sunrise’s application was accepted/ approved to be a funnel cake vendor at the June 29 Independence Day festival, “Market Street ALLEN USA Celebration”.
Volunteers from both clubs set up Friday night. Saturday volunteers from both clubs worked two three-hour shifts, using Plano West’s equipment, ingredients, and guidance. Approximately two hours into the event, a threat of wet & windy weather pushed in from the east. Area lightning strikes forced the city to postpone & evacuate the park.
Thirty minutes after the sky began to clear at 7:00 p.m., the city reopened the event. The community returned to the park in mass. Freshly cooked hot funnel cakes hovered & overwhelmed, and for the next three hours, the team of Rotarians processed orders from an unrelenting long line of customers that formed in front of their Rotary-booth,
Shared proceeds, from the event will help support both clubs’ service projects in their respective communities, the ultimate beneficiaries of this fair and beneficial partnership.