Teachers Knead Bread to help Jeanine Nicarico Literacy Fund

Teachers have the knead to help Bread sales will raise money for literacy effort.(News)
Article from:Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) Article date:March 19, 2004Author:Allen, Kari More results for:jeanine nicarico Literacy

Byline: Kari Allen Daily Herald Staff Writer

Although they're more accustomed to being in front of classrooms, about 25 Naperville teachers will spend some time Saturday behind counters.

They'll be kneading bread, making sales and working with customers during the annual "Bread for Dough" fund-raiser at Great Harvest Bread, 192 W. Gartner Road.

Naperville Unit District 203 teachers will help make and sell the bread to raise money for the Jeanine Nicarico Memorial Literacy Fund. Since it began in 1996, the event has generated more than $20,000.

The tradition was begun by John and Michelle Jefferds, the previous owners of Great Harvest Bread. When Mike and Jo Anne Nikodem took over as owners March 1, they had no intention of halting the fund-raiser.

"We decided a long time ago to keep doing this," Mike Nikodem said. "It's such a great cause."

The fund has provided more than $70,000 in literacy grants to District 203, Indian Prairie Unit District 204 and Naperville private schools. It was founded in 1996 in memory of Jeanine, the 10-year-old schoolgirl who was abducted from her home and murdered in 1983.

River Woods Elementary School teacher Charlene Behrends, who helped start the sale, is expecting a lot of customers.

"Saturday is a busy day anyway," she said. "The flow should be really good in the morning."

Mike Nikodem is expecting the biggest crowds between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Naperville teachers will be working in two-hour shifts from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. They'll be selling loaves that range from about $3 to $5.50. Most of the proceeds for the day will benefit the literacy fund.

Teachers will spend much of the time out with the customers, Mike Nikodem said.

"We want to put the teachers out in front as much as we can," he said. "They deserve all the credit