Nothing like a donation you can work for

Some of my most dismal high school memories are of those dreaded ventures around Portales attempting to sell yearbook ads.

Even as a teenager, it felt to me like we were asking for something we probably didn’t deserve, and even then I knew that every business we walked into was being visited by kids from every other school with requests like ours.

That may be part of why I loved hearing about an experience Leslie Creighton had with a student who came into her family’s Portales business in search of financial support for an upcoming school-related trip.

Like most businesses in our area, Creighton’s Town and Country gets hit up by folks looking for donations on a regular basis, “at least weekly,” Creighton said, “maybe two to three times a week during the school year, and at fair time even more.”

And like most businesses in our area, Creighton’s does what it can to support many good causes. You regularly see car washes in their parking lot or their name in programs and thank-you ads.

What made this interaction different, Creighton said, is that instead of asking for a straight-out donation, this student asked if there was any work she could do.

The student was Calleigh Mochel, a sophomore at Elida High School and a member of the school’s new chapter of the Business Professionals of America.

Creighton reported the interaction went like this.

“She (Calleigh) came in one day and said, ‘I know you’ve heard our BPA won state. I’m looking to find a way to earn some money for nationals.’

“I said, ‘You want to work?’” Creighton recalled. “She said, ‘Yes, ma’am.’”

Creighton said that was an offer that was easy to accept.

Within minutes Mochel had been supplied with a mop and bright yellow bucket full of water, and she was busy cleaning floors in the feed store.

Mochel is a member of the Elida BPA’s small business management team. She and her two teammates won first place at the state competition in Albuquerque in February, according to Sandy Vigil, the Elida BPA advisor.

They will be traveling to Chicago in May to compete at nationals, along with two other Elida students who also qualified to advance.

Creighton stressed that she isn’t knocking fundraisers, but said, “I was just tickled pink that anyone came in wanting to work for it.”

She also offered a timely reminder, which I am happy to second: When we take our business to big corporations or purchase online instead of locally (even if we save some pennies), we are removing important dollars from our community that are regularly returned as our local merchants support our kids and area organizations.

“We want to promote kids to grow up and become good members of this community,” Creighton said, but added, “It’s sure easier when someone asks to work. It was just so refreshing. Any business would be thrilled to do this.”

Betty Williamson tips her hat to Calleigh Mochel for asking and to Leslie Creighton for saying yes. Reach her at:

[email protected]