M&M Fundraiser to Benefit Mia Gapsch, Sperreng student, this Saturday

Several additional events are planned for Friday through Sunday. Details are included below.

Students and staff at Sperreng Middle School will give out hundreds of bags of M&M’s from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 7, to raise money for the family of sixth-grader Maci Gapsch, who was killed in a house fire Aug. 27. The fire also claimed the lives of her father and great-grandmother.

Community members are invited to drive through the parking lot at Sperreng Middle School, 12111 Tesson Ferry Road, and make a donation to the Gapsch Family Fund. All donors will receive a pack of M&M’s in honor of Maci, and her sister Mia, who survived the fire. Culver’s South County will also be on hand serving free frozen custard to donors. A special thanks to Sam’s in Crestwood for donating several cases of M&M’s for the event. Families and employees across the district also donated hundreds of bags of the candy to help out.

In addition, barbecue meals will be available for purchase from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, also on Sperreng’s parking lot. The barbecue fundraiser will be hosted by the International Association of Firefighters Local 2665, the Mehlville Fire Protection District, and the St. Louis County Police. Click here for a flyer.

• On Friday, the Lindbergh High School Student Council invites the entire community to a tailgate before the first home football game, at 5 p.m. between the auditorium and Gym 2 at LHS. Activities will include face painting, an inflatable slide, and games for kids. All proceeds from snow cones, hot dogs, chips and drinks will be donated to the Gapsch Family Fund.
• Sunset Lanes, 7777 Watson Road, is also hosting a fundraiser on Friday night along with Sperreng seventh-grader Justin Fisher. Patrons can enjoy unlimited bowling from 4-6 p.m. for $10, and all proceeds will go to the Gapsch family. Click here for a flyer.
• On Sunday, Custard’s 1st Stand, 4599 Telegraph Road, will host a fundraiser for the Gapsch family from 1:30-9:30 p.m., featuring hot dogs, frozen custard and lots of fun activities. Click here for a flyer.
• Sperreng will host an additional benefit for district families on Friday, Sept. 20. The family friendly “Mixer for Maci” will be an evening event of fun, food and fellowship! There will be games, movies, dancing, great food, and more. Details and planning for the event are just beginning.

Independent efforts to raise money for the Gapsch family have also continued to soar. Here are a few highlights:

• Sperreng Middle School seventh-graders Payton Husman and Annabelle Davis set up an impromptu fundraiser at their school’s open house to benefit the family of Maci and Mia Gapsch. Payton, who was a partner in science class with Mia, and Annabelle sold candy to parents attending the open house and raised $350 in just a few hours!
• This weekend, Sperreng eighth-graders Mary Kate Heuer, Libby Dorsey, and Maria Wasenius; and LHS ninth-grader Jenny Heuer held a snow cone stand to raise more than $1,000 for the family.
• Truman Middle School eighth-grader Amanda Weidlick organized a hat day fundraiser Aug. 30. The generosity of Truman families far exceeded the $1 requested donation students could pay to wear their hats on Friday. In all, the school raised more than $2,000, and one parent wrote a check for $500. “Walking the halls of Truman Middle School and seeing the number of hats is an indication of the student support of a fellow Lindbergh student is a testament to the character of our families,” said Principal Dr. Tara Sparks.
• Seckman Middle School in the Fox School District raised more than $850 during an iPod Day last week. Maci and Mia’s aunt works at the school.
• Oakville Middle School will be sponsoring a hat day in the coming week to benefit the family. They have an employee in the district who is also a family member.
• The Optimists Club of West County donated $500 the day after the fire.
• Angela Palmier, whose daughter is at Concord Elementary, will donate the booth fee for their booth and 100 percent of all money raised at the Lindbergh Flea Market.