On October 6, 2005, New Westminster Secondary School band held its annual chocolate drive to raise money for trips. At 6pm, after I have finished my homework, I went to the school cafeteria. I asked one of the staff about a group to join. She told me to go with the boy “in the red shirt”. I found the “group” (actually, there was only one person) to go with. After we discussed our plans, we were off. We were assigned a specific area so each door only gets knocked on once. My partner was Alex, a medium sized boy in grade 9, and we were to sell on 2nd to 4th Streets, and 6th to 10th Avenues.
We started on one corner of a block, and I worked on way and Alex worked the other way. We stayed on the same block, and eventually we’d meet on the opposite corner. At first, I wasn’t too happy because of the darkness and the heavy rain. There were few streetlights and most of the light is blocked by the trees lining the street. But as soon as I started, I knew I was going to break my last year’s amount sold (that was for my elementary school), which was eight small boxes, and that cheered me up. I sold a box at the first house, and after that I sold a box for about every three houses I visited. At every house, I knocked on the door or rang the bell. After they answered, I told them my name, and asked if they would like to support the NWSS band by buying one of our fine chocolate-covered almonds. I told them that they were only $3 each, and that they were made from the finest roasted almonds from California. The little speech worked. By the end of the block, I had sold eight boxes, and Alex sold seven. The rain probably helped as it made the buyers more sympathetic and even allowed me to sell to some people who hated chocolate! A kind customer gave me an extra dollar and let me keep the change! Sales were very good, and the rain was starting to let up a bit, so I was very excited to start the next block. On the next block, I sold seven boxes on my own, and because I finished before Alex, I helped him sell to the last two houses of the block, and managed to sell another box. A couple of times I went to three houses in a row without a sale, but considering the sales made, business was still pretty good, and I used the rain to my advantage. At the next block, at his suggestion, Alex gave me some of his chocolate-covered mints to sell and I gave him some of my chocolate-covered almonds so we have both kinds of chocolates to sell, which gives customers a wider selection to buy. On the next block, with the mints, sales increased. I even met a really nice person who bought two boxes and even gave me $3 to buy my own box! At other houses, sales went as usual.
On this block I only managed to sell four boxes (including my own box) because after about five houses, we had to go because my dad was going to pick me up and hour early, at 8 o’clock. In all, 21 almonds and 19 mints were sold. Together, we made over $100! Of course, only a fraction of the money goes to fund our band trip, but with more successful fundraisers like this, our school should be able to raise enough money to pay for most of the trip.
