How to Plan Your Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser
Spaghetti dinners are a cheap and easy way to raise funds for your organization or cause. The meal itself is affordable and simple to prepare, even for inexperienced cooks. Pasta and salads are also a general crowd pleaser. Planning a spaghetti dinner fundraiser is not overly difficult, but it will require some forethought to create an enjoyable event. If you plan your event carefully, get the word out and provide plenty of opportunities for fundraising within the dinner, you're sure to have a successful evening. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Find sponsors. These individuals or companies will be responsible for providing or paying for the supplies for your spaghetti dinner. In turn, you should list their names or advertisements on placemats or signage at the event.
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Book a location, such as a school cafeteria, church or public hall. Make sure the location has plenty of tables and chairs and an accessible kitchen.
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Plan additional events that may be held in conjunction with your spaghetti dinner to increase your fundraising opportunities. The affordable food will get people in the door, but you may be able to interest them in a raffle or silent auction once they are there. Plan to place tip jars at the end of the food line or additional donation jars near the entrance.
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Advertise your event. Provide local newspapers, radio stations and television stations with a press release. Let them know exactly what your organization is about and what the funds from the spaghetti dinner will be used for.
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Sell tickets for the dinner. Offer a discounted price for tickets purchased ahead of time. This will help you to get a general idea of how many attendees to expect. However, you should also be prepared to sell additional tickets at the door to get as many people in to your event as possible. Post large signs in front of your venue advertising the affordable dinner inside and you may get several hungry passers by.
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Purchase the food supplies. One pound of spaghetti will feed four to six people. If you're including meatballs, plan to place two or three on each plate. Provide about two ounces of tossed salad per person. Ask volunteers within your organization to donate desserts so you can provide a variety of options on a buffet table at the end of your serving line.
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Assign volunteers to various jobs throughout the event. You will need people to sell and collect tickets, prepare and serve food and keep tables clean throughout the event. You will need additional volunteers to preside over raffles, silent auctions and other activities.
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Donate leftovers to a homeless shelter or food bank. There's no reason to let the leftover food go to waste at the close of your event. Make arrangements for all leftover food to be packaged and taken to a food bank or homeless shelter at the end of the evening.
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Tips & Warnings
When selecting the date and time for your event, be sure to check your community's calendar to ensure that you are not overlapping with another charity event.
Check the laws in your area regarding raffles before adding this item to your agenda. Raffles are illegal in some areas and you may need a license for a legal raffle where you live.
References
- Photo Credit spaghetti image by Maciej Mamro from Fotolia.com
