Spaghetti dinner to benefit student-athletes

New Holland Lions Club member Dustin Spencer was not sure when the club first held a fundraiser spaghetti dinner for Garden Spot High School (GSHS) sports teams, but he did not hesitate to do some research on the subject. "I remember (attending the dinners) when I was a little kid," said Spencer, who later reported that the first dinner was held in 1994.

This year's all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner will be held on Saturday, March 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the cafeteria at GSHS, 669 E. Main St., New Holland. For 2024, the Lions are partnering with the New Holland Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Lodge 413 to hold the event.

"This is our first dinner since 2019," said Spencer, who noted that the benefit was interrupted in 2020 by COVID-19 restrictions. This year's menu will include spaghetti and meatballs, salad, bread, and a variety of desserts. The eat-in option will be all-you-can-eat, but per-ticket takeout meals will be also be available.

The event has benefited the GSHS baseball team for at least 10 years, and this year, the lacrosse program will benefit as well. "We do the behind-the-scenes work," said Spencer. "The kids on the teams will be the servers, clear the tables, and seat people."

Tickets may be purchased from Spencer by calling 717-203-3225 or from Odd Fellows member Ralph Hess at 717-354-2200. Tickets should also be available at the door on the night of the dinner.

"In 2019, we sold 800 tickets," recalled Spencer, who said the event was so well attended, kitchen workers had to go to a nearby grocery store to purchase more food. Spencer said he would be happy to see 700 attend this year, since it is the first time the event will be held in four years.

Hess said the clubs are looking forward to working together. "We are partnering with the Lions Club because they are short of manpower and so are we," he said. "Together we can do something good."

The New Holland Lions Club meets at Yoder's Restaurant, 14 S. Tower Road, New Holland, on the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Guests are invited to attend a meeting to hear about the Lions Club's service activities benefiting the community. For more information, call 717-355-0230 or email lionjbron@yahoo.com.

The Odd Fellows Lodge meets on the first and third Mondays of each month at the Charles E. Ludwig VFW Post 7362, 755 Rancks Church Road, New Holland, at 7:30 p.m. The first meeting is a business meeting and the second is a social meeting. Readers who are interested in learning more about membership may email earllodgesecretary@gmail.com.