Students find innovative way to take a bite out of world hunger
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

HELPING HANDS- Agoura High School students prepare for their first Italia Deli Day designed to raise funds for Heifer International and local food banks. From left, Emily Teitelbaum, Ben Elkin, Brittany Irshay, Andrew Frangos, Dan Klein, Alyssa Burns and Daniel Wallman.

A group of Agoura High School students is attempting to take a bite out of world hunger with a new campus organization called Club Sandwich, but school board policy is biting back and may shut the club down.

Club Sandwich was launched from the minds of two seniors, Andrew Frangos, club president, and Ben Elkin, vice president. The boys said they wanted to make a difference in the lives of people who are starving in Third World countries, and figured a simple concept could reap many rewards.

Since the concept revolves around food, Frangos and Elkin believe the club is tailor-made for growing- and hungry- teens. The club's motto, "Solving World Hunger One Sandwich at a Time" reinforces the founders' belief that simple measures and a bit of tenacity can make a big difference in fundraising.

The Club Sandwich inaugural event, called "Italia Deli Day," was launched in December when Frangos and Elkin persuaded 125 students to preorder sandwiches from the Agoura Hills delicatessen, which agreed to provide the food at a discounted price.

The dollar discount provided the basis for the fundraising. After students chowed down meatball sandwiches, Italian deli submarine sandwiches and other delectable fare from the deli, the club made its first profit of $150.

Club leaders chose the Heifer International organization as its beneficiary. "We're saving up for a water buffalo (which costs) $250" to donate to a Southeast Asian village, Elkin said. Heifer International allows patrons to choose the kind of farm animal to be donated to families struggling in Third World countries.

"When you tell kids we are saving up for a water buffalo, it gets them more excited than just raising money," Frangos said.

Frangos said he became interested in helping in the fight against hunger after he completed a research project on genocide. He joined the school's Human Rights club looking for direction only to find out how difficult it was to raise student awareness about global issues.

The sandwich club, it turned out, was much more appealing to students. "It's easy to make a good choice and help a good cause," Frangos said. "Why wouldn't you buy a sandwich and donate to world hunger?"

"Raising money, it's like raising awareness," Elkin said. "We wanted to broaden (students') horizons (beyond) boots, or the last episode of "24" and "The OC."

The club had no sooner gotten off the ground when Frangos and Elkin received some bad news. They said that apparently clubs that undermine the profitability of the school cafeteria are against board policy.

Chris Regan, assistant principal at Agoura High School, said the club has other options to fundraise. He suggested the students hold restaurant nights where the restaurants will give a percentage of their profits to the club.

Frangos said the club is working under the guidance of Andrew Staiano, a government teacher who is reportedly working with the school's administration to find a solution.

To help convince the administration the club barely makes a dent in cafeteria profits, the boys conducted a survey of seniors' eating habits.

"On our first day we handed out a survey to everyone who ordered a sandwich," Elkin said. Students were asked if had they not bought an Italia deli sandwich on campus, whether they would have eaten at the cafeteria, purchased lunch off campus or brought lunch from home.

"Of the 87 responses, 11 percent said they would have eaten in the cafeteria," Elkin said. "We brought (the survey results) to the administration."

Frangos and Elkin have brainstormed about other ways to keep their club alive, including selling sandwiches to kids after school. The same board policy would apply to after-school food sales, Frangos said. During lunch is the best option.

Frangos and Elkin are working on other methods of raising money. They plan to sell T-shirts and hope they can find a way for Club Sandwich to coexist with the cafeteria.

"We're going to find a way to get it to work," Frangos said. "We have confidence."

Club Sandwich is planning another fundraiser early next month. The group is accepting donations toward the water buffalo purchase. To donate, call Frangos at (818) 917-6733.

For further information visit www.heifer.org.