ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — First, you have to ask the common question, “paper or plastic.” Then you have to whip the bag open and start filling it as fast as possible, remembering that heavy things (like a holiday turkey) go on the bottom, fragile things (like eggs) on top. Cold and frozen stuff needs to stay together so it can all stay cold on the ride home.

Keeping an eye out, sizing up on what someone might be able to carry keeps you from overfilling the bags. That might lead to better tips.

If it sounds a little like a fancy basketball drill, you’re right. And for members of the Robertsdale High Boys and Girls Basketball teams, it was another way to earn the funds they need to upgrade their gear, get new uniforms, and attend regional tournaments. Both teams worked at the Robertsdale Winn-Dixie.

“We’re just trying to raise money to go on trips,” said Jerald Kirkland, a forward on the junior varsity team. Both varsity and JV team members participated in the event. The boy’s team bagged the Saturday before Thanksgiving, splitting into three shifts to cover the day.

Assistant Coach Paul Marsh of the boy’s team was watching his players carefully and said the tips earned by the players would go for to cover the cost of “gas for the bus, uniforms, and things needed for the team.”

Girls Head Coach Scott Harville used to bag groceries, and discovered members of his team needed help with a few fundamentals of this new game.

“One kid was fixin’ to put detergent in with fresh vegetables,” chuckled Harville in a telephone interview. He estimates the girls earned close to “$1,000” in their six hours bagging the day before Thanksgiving.

This was not easy money.

“A lot (of the team) volunteered to do two shifts, but they found that was a long time,” said Harville. “We have learned something from that.”

The girls team worked after school let out to 9 p.m.

Head Coach Marshall Davis of the boys team added in a telephone interview, “We bought new uniforms and equipment. We’re going to some tournaments, so we need to raise money for the bus.” All the coaches and team members were slated to take a shift that day. Harville also said that the money from his team’s fundraiser would be used for the same things.

Tournaments, added Davis, are a good way for the varsity and junior varsity teams to try themselves against opponents they may not ordinarily see during a regular season.

Bagging for tips may not seem like a standard school fundraiser, but Davis, who became head coach this year after leading the junior varsity for the past two years is adamant that his team will not often be standing on street corners collecting for the team.

“I strongly believe in education first,” said Davis. “You learn if you work for the money, not standing on corners.”

Harville, who has been the girls basketball coach for six years, says that this is the first time his team has tried this method of earning money.

“I have heard of it in the past, and decided to do it after talking to the boys coach,” said Harville. “With the economy the way it is, it’s good to have another (kind of ) fundraiser.”

Don’t be surprised if you see some more Robertsdale High students working for tips at a local store.

“I hope to do it again,” said Harville. “We were in our own community, and it was good to see the people coming out to support you.”