The spaghetti dinner fundraiser can be a very simple and effective way to raise a considerable contribution to advance Support Our Troops' mission. It can be a success on its own, or it can be combined with other fundraisers, like drawings or a 50/50 raffle. You can also hold silent auctions for multiple items during the dinner. This fundraiser will require a large seating area with a kitchen (maybe a school or church). You will need plenty of spaghetti and sauce. Buy the spaghetti and the canned tomatoes for the sauce at a bulk food store such as Sam's or Costco. Someone who regularly makes his or her own spaghetti sauce should have the task of making it for the event. Italians are said to be very good at this You can make it the day before and heat it up at the event. However, you will want to do your guests a favor and cook the spaghetti the day of the event. And have plenty of it!

It is important that the dinner have a homemade quality that your patrons will appreciate. You will need plenty of seating with tables. If they're not washable tables, you might consider disposable tablecloths, or plastic liners that you can wipe off in between guest. Keep in mind that "bigger is better": you'll want to have plenty of large pots, colanders, spoons, tongs, and ladles on hand. Try providing a side dish, like garlic bread and/or a salad. (And for your carnivores, meat sauce is a good option, too. But definitely make certain to have meat-free sauce on hand.) Keep cheese and other foodstuffs (e.g. salad dressings, butter) already on the tables.

Publicity.
It's important to publicize the dinner as much as possible. You should start advertising at least 3 weeks prior to give people time to fit it into their schedules. Before setting the date, check the local school and community calendars to make sure no other big events are going on at the time of your dinner. The more you market your event, the better the turnout will be. At the event location on the day of the event you'll want to advertise with signs that have BIG, clear writing. But it's not enough to just have signs up the day of the event. You will need to put it in community papers, bulletin boards, flyers, posters, email chains, and the like. Popular places for families include libraries, churches, school boards, day care centers, and play grounds. Maybe community announcements. Make sure your ads run effectively for at least two weeks.

Volunteers.
You will also need plenty of volunteers. Get as many volunteers as possible (10-15). You need people to cook, clean the tables, plate the food, and seat guests as well. You might need people taking orders, depending on how you do your dinner. You may just have people form a line past the cook who places their order on their plate as they move by and take their seat. During the dinner you will need volunteers to collect money from your patrons. You will need at least two or three "chefs." You need people to clean the tables and seat guests as well. You might have volunteers place patrons' orders on the back side of their plate with a Sharpie marker. It's best not to offer to-go boxes.

Pricing & Add-ons.
The "all-you-can-eat" dinner can cost $5-$7. Make children under 13 only $2. Add $1 for garlic bread or something else. Hold a raffle for some extra cash. Sell tickets to guests who are already eating for a dollar or two each. Or 5 for $3s. If you can't get a good enough prize donated, do a 50/50 raffle where one person gets 50% of the raffle earnings and the fundraiser gets the other 50%. You still keep all the proceeds from the dinner. Ask for donations. Place a large jug or bucket next to the cash register and label it as the place for donations. Even if people only donate change you will collect a considerable amount. It's best not to offer to-go boxes. Make sure you have signs up to let people know who they're supporting. Have signs directing people to the event that day.

Money Handling.
Have two people track and watch the money. Make sure to lock up your donations and put someone in charge of the key. Have two people sign off on the money raised before you leave the scene.

Supply list

• Location
• 10-15 volunteers
• Posters and signs
• Advertisements
• Spaghetti
• Sauce (from recipe)
• Water
• Ice
• Cheese in shakers on each table
• Salt shakers
• Pepper shakers
• Garlic bread
• Butter or margarine (preferably individual packets for sanitary reasons)
• Meat sauce (optional)
• Large pots for making spaghetti and sauce high volume
• Refrigerator
• Kitchen facility
• Large stove top and oven
• Large seating area
• Disposable heavy duty plates, silverware and napkins
• Cups for water and soda (optional)
• Mixing spoons
• Ladles
• Tongs
• Larger containers
• Tables
• Chairs
• Cashbox/purse with change (plenty of 1's and 5's)
• Donations buckets
• Charity displays/banners (let them know whom they're helping)
• Disposable table cloths (optional)
• Damp towels or disposable wipes to wipe down dirty tables
• Hand sanitizer
• Raffle tickets and prizes
• Bowl (something to place the tickets in)
• Auction items
• Someone with a loud, commanding voice to speak over the crowd

Good preparation will make for a fun event!  Enjoy yourself.

Legal
This event outline is provided for informational purposes only. Its use and implementation are subject to application of your own personal judgment skills and attributes. Given today's predatory legal environment wherein everyone is taught to look to others rather than themselves, it is necessary that say we offer this outline for informational purposes without representation or warranty that it is fit for use for the specific purposes indicated or use to which you may put it. In any use and implementation of the matters contained this outline, you are acting as an individual volunteer pursuing your own cause, and not as an agent of the entity offering this outline. Its downloading and use is subject to the terms and venue stated in the terms of use posted at SupportOurTroops.Org.

Mail a check for the funds raised to and payable to:
Support Our Troops^®
PO Box 70
Daytona Beach, FL 32115
Tel. 877-879-8882

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