"There's a lot of people that are actually pretty excited about it," clerk Trista [image-nocss] Neeley, who came up with the pie-throwing event, told the newspaper. "This is just another thing that's going above and beyond the shamrocks to raise more money."
The pie throwing is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 16, St. Patrick's Day Eve. EZ Mart Manager Donn Little said four different employees will each sit for one hour, but he said many of his loyal customers will likely wait until he's in range.
"I figure there's a lot of people that have it in for management," he told the paper. "Most of them think it's a cute idea. Some of them said they'll be lining up to hit particular people."
Little said the fundraiser fits in well with the company's Irish image. The McCarthy family owns Blarney Castle Oil Co., which runs the Grand Haven EZ Mart and more than 90 other Michigan stores, including the Clark station in Grand Haven.
Through Monday, Grand Haven EZ Mart had already raised $3,447, said the report. Last year, the store raised $3,517. By the time St. Patrick's Day ends next Tuesday, however, Little said the store will have broken last year's mark.
The money all goes to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which Little said will use it to help send a Tri-Cities boy with the disease to summer camp.
The Blarney Castle management has given EZ Mart staff an extra incentive to raise money, the report said. The Blarney store with the top fundraiser gets to spend a day at the camp.
Last week, the EZ Mart in Norton Shores, Mich., had a gasoline pumping and car wash event to bolster its fundraiser, Little said. "They're our major competition," he said. "That's why the pie throwing will help with that."
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