In recent years, Stella Brockman Elementary School and the Manteca Chili’s Bar & Grill worked in partnership with a one-day carnival benefiting the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
This year will be different.
“We are not able to host the carnival but we will be doing Tip-A-Cop (fundraiser),” said Amy Albrecht, who had served as the coordinator of the event.
On Monday, Sept. 12, from 5 to 8:30 p.m., members of the Manteca Police Department will volunteer their time as the celebrity wait staff.
They’ll be the servers that evening, delivering food and refilling drinks in exchange for tips at Chili’s located at 2262 Daniels St. at Stadium Center.
All tips will go directly to St. Jude’s, which is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures while working to save children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases, according to Albrecht, who is also an employee at the local restaurant.
In addition, Chili’s will be a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning, Sept. 18, from 8 to 11 o’clock.
“Once again, all proceeds will be going directly to St. Jude’s,” said Albrecht.
The carnival at Stella Brockman was held in 2008 as the brainchild of students from the leadership program looking to raise money to help a youngster at the school with cancer.
Chili’s came on board the following year with its Create-A-Pepper Childhood Cancer campaign.
Albrecht said that the timing was part of the reason for not having the carnival for this year.
As for the pancake breakfast, the meal will also consist of eggs, fruit, bacon, coffee, juice or tea.
“There will be face painting (for the kids) for a donation,” said Albrecht, who noted that a car wash benefitting the same cause is in the works.
Tickets for the pancake breakfast are $10 for adults and $5 for children.
For more information, call Chili’s at 209.825.5986.