Last year I did "the gift" as a theme. I hung small boxes from the ceiling and wrapped large boxes to decorate plus a candy ar for the teachers!

we do monthly luncheons too and do a theme. we've been lucky this year. here is some ideas we've done:

Aug - Italian (Olive Garden donated some food, breadsticks and salad) we provided desserts

Sep - Applebees donated, we also did Chilli and football foods (teachers wore favorite Team Jersies)

Oct - Soup and salads....different types of soups and salads

Nov - Thanksgiving foods

Dec - appetizers (this year we are doing ham, baked zitti, punch, variety desserts)

Jan - Healthy starts (last year did soup, salads, fruit)

Feb - Italian again, chocolate fountain

March-sandwiches

April-can't remember...but ususally we do: main entree, salads, desserts

May-catered - On The Border restaurant

June/July - took a break

this year I wanted to do a cookie exchange for Dec but we don't have time or people to help.

do a search on this website. I've heard other groups do Luau foods, Mexican, etc... there's lots of great ideas.

D

We will be serving soup tomorrow. We purchase the resturant soups from wholesale food stores in the area (ours is Cash N' Carry, United Grocers). You do not need a business license to purchae there. We then buy rolls/bread from Costco. The staff loves it!

In January we host a "Tailgate Party". We decorate for the Super Bowl and bring in smoked turkey (I bought it today for $5 and a dad will smoke it), rolls, salad, pasta salad, chips & salsa, deviled eggs, brownies & cookies and a few bottles of root beer to make it authentic. The teachers loved it. Couldn't believe how fast the deviled eggs dissappeared!

We usually do 2 or 3 kinds of soup, various sandwich selections, baked ziti, quiche and huge salads. Various desserts are also donated.

They only have limited time, so it needs to be quick meals they can make a plate and enjoy before returning to class.

You could do around the world and have a roasted turkey/ham or roast beef, some latkes and challah bread pudding, perhaps a mediterrainian dish, I don't know--find some fun things. Go to foodnetwork.com and look under their holiday meal planning.

I just went to a lunch yesterday where they set up a "potato bar" with baked potatos and tons of different toppings (chili, chives, brocolli, cheese, butter, sour cream-shoot you could do sliced roast beef, chicken salads all for the potato stuffing) and maybe do Spuds and Suds with the gift being some luxurious bath soaps and stuff.

just brainstorming...d