Monday evenings are usually slow for the Washington Road McDonald’s, but Thomson residents filled the restaurant Monday to support their hometown high school football team.
The Thomson High School Athletic Booster Club sold more than 350 tickets for all-you-can-eat hotcakes and sausages to raise money for the athletic program. They earned nearly $1,200, said Booster Club President Richard Downs.
By 6:30 p.m., more customers were eating hotcakes than Big Macs.
“(We’re) supporting the team,” said Thomson resident Jimmy Poston, as he ate his plate of pancakes.
“The whole town is out and it’s not interstate people. This is Thomson,” said McDonald’s franchise owner Janie Cravens.
She worked alongside the players, manning the front counter with coach Milan Turner. Rather than just handing over the funds, Cravens put the players to work helping employees and customers around the restaurant.
Defensive lineman Bernard Dawson and defensive back Wykey Lane greeted customers at the door and sold tickets. Outside linebacker Jarquavious Heath and strong safety Antron Wilson loaded Styrofoam trays with pancakes and passed them down the line toward running back Devonte Howard and wide receiver Johnquelle Parker, who kept the trays flowing to the counter.
Many of the players said the experience was valuable to them. They learned teamwork isn’t just about working together on the field, but that it is important in many areas of life.
But working together off the field will help solidify the team on the field, Parker said.
“It’s a good experience for the team. It’s bringing us together and showing us teamwork,” he said.
