Hold a Fundraising Spaghetti Dinner
When an organization falls short on funds, one simple and inexpensive way to have a fund raiser is to throw a spaghetti party. With pasta's unique ability to lend itself to many styles and recipes, as well as it being inexpensive, it is a great way to both draw in a crowd and raise funds for a special project or non-profit organization. The key to raising the money you need is promoting the fund raising event and making the pasta dishes as delicious as possible. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Promoting and Staging the Fund Raising Party
1. Find a suitable location that will comfortably hold the number of people you expect to attend the event. Some ideas are VFW halls, parks, schools, firehouses or beaches. Draw many signs with the colored markers and paper. Put the time, date, location, rain date and the cost for the spaghetti dinner on the signs. In bold letters make sure that you write who/what the fundraiser is for and that all monies will go to that specific recipient. Make sure to have some sort of RSVP to get an idea of the number of people attending. Place the signs over a wide area, keeping track of each one so they can be removed when the event is over. Have a parent or guardian accompany a child or minor to supermarkets and malls to hand out flyers about the event. Advertise the in the local papers, many of which will do so for free since it is a fund raiser.
2. Purchase your pasta and ingredients the day prior to the fundraiser. A good rule of thumb is to plan on making 4 ounces of dry pasta per person. To add variety to the pasta, make two different meat spaghetti options such as one with meatballs and one with sausage. Include one link of Italian sausage and 1-2 meatballs depending on size, for each plate served. For store bought sauce, one 14 ounce jar is required for every two pounds of pasta. Check with the store manager to see if a discount is possible for fund raining event supplies.
3. Make the meatballs. Mix one pound of ground beef, eight ounces of seasoned breadcrumbs, four ounces of Parmesan cheese, three tablespoons of dried basil, and one egg. Mix well and then form the mixture in one to two ounce balls.
4. Cook the pasta, sausages or meatballs on the day of the event. Undercook the pasta slightly to make sure it doesn't get too soft during serving. Roast the meatballs and sausages and add some of the rendered fat to your sauce as well for additional flavor.
5. Heat the pasta sauce about an hour prior to the event. In a large pot with boiling water reheat the pasta by dunking it in the water in the colander. In the chafing serving dishes, place the pasta, then the sauce and finally the meatballs and/or sausages--each in one serving dish. Serve with the utensils and put sliced Italian bread out with the pasta. Place the paper plates, utensils and napkins out for use. Offer a receipt for any paying guest for tax purposes and make sure that someone keeps track of the money collected. Thank all your guests and offer to send an update to everyone via email as to what was collected and where it will be used.
Tags: fund raiser, Fundraising Spaghetti, Fundraising Spaghetti Dinner, Hold Fundraising, Hold Fundraising Spaghetti