MOUNT MORRIS – VFW (Veteran’s of Foreign Wars) Post 547 had their annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser Event Thursday evening to help raise money for renovations to their community building.
Members of the VFW at the dinner said their goal was to bring the community and families together to help raise money to put in new floors and bathrooms for the Post’s community building.
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“We are veterans who served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan, and still want to serve our community,” said Rick Harter, 68. “Our buildings that are used for numerous community functions are in dire need of repairs and renovations. Thus, we have fundraisers like this spaghetti dinner. Our Women’s Auxillary actually does the hard work by selling the tickets, and making and serving the food.”
But the giving doesn’t stop there. The VFW not only raises money to help renovate community buildings but also help Veterans who are need such as Bob and Smidge Stevens, who lost their house on Main Street Mount Morris in a fire just two weeks ago. The Post is putting together other events to help the Stevens as well.
Many local Veterans also help contribute, like Sam Maggio, 86, who wakes up every year at 7 am to begin cooking his famous homemade sauce from scratch. He and his staff provide enough food to feed hundreds of hungry people as they pour in through the door.
The Spaghetti dinner has been held annually for over ten years, although this year’s was a great success in bringing
the community together to help donate and contribute to the fundraiser. The Mount Morris Fire Department pitched in by donating the ziti pasta which substituted for spaghetti.
The vets also mentioned that the VFW is looking forward to begin offering scholarships to local high school students who are looking to continue their path to college.
PHOTO CAPTION: Top – Vets pause for a quick photo. Bottom – Prominent local folks file in for delicious pasta, including 2015 County Judicial candidate Kevin Van Allen. (Photos/Jason Pulisciano)