Operation Holiday Basket 2023

Ho Ho Ho and Toot Toot Toot !!!!!!!!!!!

We'll try our best to be just as enthusiastic as Freeman "Mac" McInroy, the teacher who started the tradition with his buddy Gary Lewis from the YMCA in 1970.  His booming "Ho Ho Ho and Toot Toot Toot, Go Teddies Go" will ring in the ears of many when they simply hear the words, Holiday Basket.

 Gary Lewis continues to be our biggest fundraiser and brings in a team of alumni volunteers to help pack the baskets along side our students

This is the 53rd year of Holiday Basket. Roosevelt High School has fed over 14,000 families over the holidays!!   

OHB is a rich tradition which involves everyone in Roosevelt High School.  Classrooms compete for who brings in the most canned goods and money.   The week of OHB is full of spirit, with each day having a theme, such as Candy Cane Day (wear red/green/white), Ugly Sweater Day (rival school swag count 😉), Wacky Hair Day, etc.  There is a door decorating contest with the winning class receiving a pizza party.

The week rounds out on Friday with OHB activities.  Students run the show packing the Holiday Baskets with Turkeys, potatoes, canned goods and cake/brownie mixes.  It’s a delight to see.  We were featured the front page of the Star Tribune last year and have had local news crews come. 

Last year 300 local families received a turkey, bag of potatoes and a box of non-perishable food items to make a holiday dinner. The baskets are delivered by our students and volunteers the Friday before break.  

This year we have committed to feeding 250 families from Roosevelt and our feeder schools.   

This is NOT a "Christmas" thing..this is a feeding our families thing! Let's get to work!

Ho Ho Ho and Toot Toot Toot, Go TEDDIES Go!!