How to Throw a Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser

Spaghetti is a solid meal for a fundraising event.

Pasta is a natural for a fundraising dinner. A little of it can feed a lot of people, and it doesn't cost as much to make as a chicken or beef dinner. A spaghetti dinner will take more than the actual food. You also need to prepare any side dishes, provide utensils and secure a location to hold the dinner.

Things You'll Need

• Pasta sauce
• Prepared salad
• Garlic bread
• Beverages
• Plates
• Napkins
• Utensils
• Cups
• Table cloths
• Warming trays
• Serving dishes
• Tongs

Instructions

1. Estimate the number of people expected to attend and plan accordingly. One lb. of pasta can typically feed four people, and one jar of sauce is needed per lb. of pasta. One bag of prepared salad has about four servings. Plan to have more food than you need since you can always donate the leftovers.

2. Speak to health inspectors in your area as far in advance as possible to see if there are any rules you must follow at a community dinner. Arrange an inspection of the kitchen or banquet area if required by local regulations. This also means you need to identify that area early in the planning process.

3. Ask for donations. Set up a volunteer sheet for people to donate or provide items like paper plates, bread, plastic table cloths and drinks. Use any contacts you have at local grocery stores or restaurants for any donations.

4. Choose side dishes to accompany the pasta. Garlic bread and a simple green salad will suffice.

5. Buy enough latex gloves for all of the servers. Get food thermometers to keep the food at the temperatures specified by the health inspector. Arrange a schedule for all of the volunteers, including servers, ticket takers and parking assistants.

6. Boil the pasta and heat the sauces about an hour before the event. Store them on warming trays on the serving tables.

7. Set up bowls of salad with tongs, and pour dressings into containers with serving spoons. Allowing people to self-serve rather than handing out portions can help prevent excess waste. Place utensils, plates and napkins next to the food tables.

References

• Step By Step Fundraising