Like many parents, I dread the word "fundraiser". It usually means I have to peddle magazines or cookie dough to some unsuspecting soul so my daughter can "earn" a stuffed animal and the PTA can make a few bucks. Needless to say, it generally ends with me writing a check and having a freezer full of chocolate chip cookies.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big supporter of the PTA and know that fundraisers are an important part of raising money for our schools. I just wish they weren't so painful. And apparently, they don't have to be.

Our school, Southern Pines Primary, decided to hold a fundraiser night at MOE's. It was incredibly simple. First, we picked a night of the week and posted it on the school calendar. We included a reminder in the school newsletter and then sent home flyers with each student on the day of our fundraiser. That night, the only thing parents had to do was show up and have dinner with their kids at MOE's in Aberdeen.

The only "real" work involved was that one lucky parent (that would be me) had to make a box and a sign to collect receipts at the cash register. When the night was over, our receipts were tallied and we received a check for 15% of the sales. That evening, we made over $200 and I didn't have to buy any cookie dough! Now, that's a fundraiser.

But the best part is that many local food establishments offer the same thing. So the next time your school needs to raise a little cash, go out to dinner. It's a fun night for the whole family.