EHS Clubs Make a Difference at the International Food Festival

Katy DeConcini, Culture Editor

Food and entertainment is a fun way to spend your Saturday. But knowing that the money raised goes to Habitat for Humanity makes it even better.

On Sept. 12, the Edwardsville chapter of Habitat for Humanity hosted the second annual International Food Festival. Many different tents of food, drinks and entertainment were present. All of the money raised went to help fund their next home build.

Coordinator Leslie Warren put a year’s work into this festival.

“We started planning this year’s festival very soon after last year’s festival,” Warren said.

Among the tents there, EHS’s very own French and German Clubs served food all day.

French Club served crepes with topping options of Nutella, jam, whipped cream, caramel or chocolate.

“A ton of people showed up for all of the food. There were always about seven or eight people working our booth at all times and we all took shifts,” French Club member senior Olivia Lowe said.

German Club had bratwurst and sauerkraut with various chips and drinks for the attendees to buy.

“From our sales record I know we served at least 150 people and there were at least 3 times that number of people at the whole event,” German Club officer and senior Jacob Levin said.

The attendance numbers were under last year’s, but that didn’t mean calamity; Warren was still happy with the outcome of the festival.

“We were somewhat disappointed with the attendance this year, only because it was much smaller than last year’s.” Warren said. “However, we were so happy with the participation of our vendors … Even though attendance was down, the festival itself was a success. We were able to make the community more aware of the work Habitat for Humanity does in the Edwardsville School District and encourage more residents to volunteer.”

The fact that all of the money went to a good cause made sacrificing all of Saturday easier.

“Knowing that all of the hard work we did benefits the Edwardsville chapter of Habitat for Humanity makes all of the hard work more than worth it,” Warren said.

The students who volunteered are aware of the work that they helped accomplish and feel great about it.

“It makes me feel great. I really believe in Habitat for Humanity and the good that it does for the world,” Levin said. “It’s the reason that I spent seven hours under that tent selling food not for profit, but for charity.”