A teacher stands at the front of the classroom as they would any other day. The only difference between today and every other day of the school year is that today this teacher is wearing a bright yellow, feather-covered suit.

This is what students can look forward to if they donate to the Kansas Association for Youth’s first big fundraiser of the year

From Sept. 16 through Sept. 20, KAY will be having their first big event during lunch. Their hope is that they will be able to raise at least $500 to donate to the American Red Cross. They are setting this fundraiser up as a jar drive where students will be able to donate money to jars labeled with the teacher of their choice. Teachers that students can choose to donate to include Brittany Harding, Kelley Alexander, Amanda Durnal, Jim Facciano,Dustin Leochner, Shauna Rinearson, Charles Golden and Katherine Buchanan. By the end of the week, the club will announce which teacher’s jar collected the most money, and that teacher will then have to wear a chicken costume to school.

“I hope that Mrs. Durnal has to wear the chicken suit,”  sophomore Gabbi Miller said. “I have her for English and I think my class would get a kick out of watching her teach in a chicken suit!”

If students want to see their favorite new teacher spend a day in the chicken suit, they’ll have to remember to bring some money. Every day during lunch, members of KAY will be reminding students of the drive so that they don’t forget to donate their spare change.

“People are going to be participating in spirit week and buying tickets for homecoming and if they have extra change, they can give it to us for donation money,” Miller said.

With the fundraiser taking place just days before Homecoming, KAY is anticipating that the excitement of the week will lift everyone’s spirits, and bring in more donations.

“It’s going to be a good week because everyone will be in a wonderful mood,” said KAY club president, junior Wyatt Hendrickson. “I think the first assembly proved Southwest will go all out for the spirit week.”

Excitement is already building up around the event, even for students who aren’t involved in KAY but still want to see their favorite teacher don the feathery suit.

“I would [donate],”  junior Kylie Jennings said. “Because I want to see a teacher dressed up in a funny costume.”

Some teachers are apprehensive about possibly having to dress up, but in the end it will be worth it to donate the money to a worth cause.

“I think it’s embarrassing to have to wear the chicken suit,” Katherine Buchanan said. “But it’s totally worth it for the cause.”

Fun and games aside, KAY members are aspiring to raise even more money this year than they have before. Last year, the club raised approximately $130,000 which, according to the KAY webpage, contributes to each club’s points to earn either the Red, Blue or Gold award.

“I hope that our school can really step up and raise enough to get nationally recognized as one of the best schools in the nation,” Miller said.

Even though the first big KAY fundraiser may seem like a way to get into high spirits before Homecoming, it is actually the first step toward reaching the club’s goals for the year.