Photograph by Aaron Suozzi
Corey Happel is cuffed and hauled away to raise "bail" for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
By NATASHA COLLINS
"Help I'm in jail. Got any money you can donate to get me out?"
It was a common refrain among those who volunteered to be locked up for the Muscular Dystrophy Association Sept. 19 at Spoons restaurant on El Camino Real.
As a jailbird, I, along with 32 other convicts, frantically called every friend, relative or person I had ever spoken to, trying to raise our $500 bail. We each had one hour to raise the cash as we sat in a makeshift jail cell, punching in number after number on cellular phones.
It was utterly humiliating to have a deputy pull up in front of your office and drag you out in handcuffs for everyone in the office to see. The roars of laughter coming from my office easily drowned out my pleas for leniency.
I must admit, however, that life in "jail" at Spoons was not as bad as I thought it would be. I mean, is this what those so-called "country club prisons" are like? Inmates talking on the phone, eating appetizers and drinking Cokes with their fellow convicts?
Through the help of community members in Sunnyvale and Cupertino, more than $7,000 was raised for the MDA, according to Bernadette Lehane, MDA's district director. Craig McCollam of Dionex Corp. raised more than $1,100.
"I simply talked to the people at my work and told them what it was for, and they all seemed to give," McCollam said. "I'd do it again next year if they asked, but I'd make someone else come with me."
Fresh Choice general managers Nick Voetos and Harry Fong, from the Sunnyvale and Cupertino stores, were eagerly phoning mutual friends and business associates to raise more money then the other. In their first 30 minutes in the hoosegow, each had raised more than $200.
Kay Eastwood, of Farrow West Apartments, came prepared for the event. She raised almost enough money to get sprung before she was even arrested.
"The money really wasn't hard to raise," Eastwood said. "I sent out faxes to everyone I knew and raised $470. All it took was one phone call when I got here, and I had the rest."
I myself had followed the same game plan. I had raised more than $450 by the time I was thrown in the slammer. A few phone calls later to Sunnyvale City Council members and other civic leaders--made by myself and co-workers--and I was out of jail in 15 minutes. The final tally was $510.
The fund-raiser at Spoons was one of many lockups set to take place in Santa Clara County. The MDA has a lockup each month in a different town. A Cupertino fund raiser will be held on Oct. 23 at Outback Cafe.
The MDA is searching for volunteers and suggestions on who to arrest. Those interested in helping the MDA with its fundraiser should call 244-1210. Donations to MDA can be sent to 1101 S. Winchester Blvd., Suite #I209, San Jose, 95128.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, September 25, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.