Thing: Free wings, baby!

Place: Sparks Firehouse Deli

Located: Across from Sparks Stadium

In: Puyallup

Given to: Local high schools

In pursuit of: Fundraising

And: School spirit

Sparks also has: Awesome pizza

Goes with: $5 happy hour pitchers of beer

Which makes for: A cheap date

An estimated $85,000 has been donated in the form of either food product or money at Sparks Firehouse Deli, and it's all in the name of giving. Since opening in September of 2009 (not even two years ago), Sparks Firehouse Deli has gathered more in terms of donations, local school support, fundraising and community involvement than I've ever seen from a restaurant in such a short amount of time. 

Just across the street from Sparks Firehouse Deli (SFD) sits Sparks Stadium, which hosts home football games for Rogers, Puyallup and Emerald Ridge high schools. SFD involves itself with each team by supporting their efforts to fundraise, and helping out however they can. SFD owner Chris Johnston fills me in on the various ways his deli has fun with the kids while helping them make a bit of money for their teams.

Before each home football game, students and parents can donate any amount (no matter how large or small) in exchange for a "wing ticket," with all proceeds going back to the school. During halftime, a pre-selected "celebrity" participant is brought onto the field, told to go around a pole three times and then immediately made to kick a field goal from the 20-yard line. If said "celebrity" makes the dizzy goal, each "wing ticket" holder receives ... can you guess? Free wings! 

Want more? SFD, along with the help of Puyallup High School's boys basketball team, has created a tradition of giving away free wings to each person in attendance when more than 80 points are scored. Since the inception of "free wings after 80 points," Puyallup High School has broken scoring records, along with increasing student attendance at games.

Who knew free wings could be such good luck?  I mean, there was a time back in the 1990s when too many hot wings put me in a food coma, thus proving to be good luck to whomever I was out on a date with, but other than that ... really-who knew?

[Sparks Firehouse Deli, 621 Fifth St., Puyallup, 253.840.3354]