4-H spaghetti dinner raises $25K for program

Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News
·2 min read

MONROE — More than $25,000 was raised at Monroe County 4-H’s annual spaghetti dinner and auction.

Toys, Trains and Candy Canes, a spaghetti dinner and auction hosted by the Monroe County 4-H Council, took place recently in the 4-H Activity Center on the Monroe County Fairgrounds. Children’s grab bags and a bake sale also were offered. New this year was a Christmas tree ornament sale. The bulbs were made by 4-H youth and raised more than $386.

Monroe County 4-H youth are shown at the auction at the recent Toys, Trains and Candy Canes event. All items, including the table centerpieces and the mantle, were auctioned to raise money for the local 4-H program.
Monroe County 4-H youth are shown at the auction at the recent Toys, Trains and Candy Canes event. All items, including the table centerpieces and the mantle, were auctioned to raise money for the local 4-H program.

Proceeds help 4-H fund scholarships, recognitions and year-round youth programming.

“The dinner went excellent this year and we even sold out of meatballs,” said Alyssa Otto, one of the kitchen helpers and the event’s photographer. "We sold over 265 meals with attendance around 300 throughout the night."

Also helping in the kitchen were members of the 4-H Teen Ambassadors.

About 300 people attended Toys, Trains and Candy Canes, a spaghetti dinner and auction benefit for Monroe County 4-H hosted by the 4-H Council.
About 300 people attended Toys, Trains and Candy Canes, a spaghetti dinner and auction benefit for Monroe County 4-H hosted by the 4-H Council.

Sofo Foods, Janssen Brothers and the Donnelly family donated food.

"We get 100 percent of the profits for the night," Otto said.

Bennett’s Orchard of Ottawa Lake donated apples for apple pies.

"Other 4-H members' donations (allowed us to) make pumpkin pies, brownies and Rice Krispie treats," Otto said.

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More than 250 items were included in the live and silent auctions.

"With the help of our 4-H clubs and families of 4-H, we had 158 items in our live auction, and we had 100 items in our silent auction this year," Otto said. "We auction off the centerpieces on the tables. We auction everything, including the mantel and all the decorations. Larry Hammond was our auctioneer for the night and did a fantastic job."

A Christmas tree ornament auction debuted at this year's dinner. 4-H youth made handmade ornaments that were sold for donations. The ornament sale raised nearly $400 for the 4-H program.
A Christmas tree ornament auction debuted at this year's dinner. 4-H youth made handmade ornaments that were sold for donations. The ornament sale raised nearly $400 for the 4-H program.

Monetary donations included: $1,500 from the Schmidt Family in honor of their mom, Gwen Schmidt, who died earlier this year; $500 from DRM Maintenance and Management of Monroe and owner Stephen Grey; and $400 from Williams Distributing.

The president of the 4-H Council is Rob Yarger. Committee chairpeople include: Patti Donnelly, Debbie Kraftchick, Jackie Manwell and Roni Worden. Several others also volunteer.

— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: 4-H spaghetti dinner raises $25K for program