Food Pantry to hold Spaghetti Dinner ‘Food’raiser/Fund-raiser

St. Cloud City Council invites everyone to a Spaghetti Dinner ‘Food’raiser/Fund-raiser Friday, Nov. 15, 5:30 p.m., in the St. Cloud Community Center (located at 3101 17th St. and formerly known as the Senior Center).

“This is the second year of this special event,” said St. Cloud Mayor Rebecca Borders. “Last year, we collected $1,419 and many nonperishable food items for the St. Cloud Community Food Pantry. We invite everyone to help us once again in gathering food and raising funds for a very good cause. If a family has access to just a little bit of assistance when they need it the most, then they can better get through a difficult situation. I invite everyone to stop by and show their support for our citizens who depend on our local food pantry.”

The cost of a spaghetti dinner is a canned good and dinners may be “eat in” or to “take out”. The dinner features spaghetti with sauce, garlic breadstick, salad, and a refreshment. Attendees can also participate in a raffle for a prize with the purchase of a $1 ticket (winner need not be present; name and phone number must be provided on ticket to contact winner). A table of donated desserts will also be available and each item will be sold for a $1 donation. Donated non-perishable food items and desserts may also be delivered to the St. Cloud Community Center the day of the event, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Donors are encouraged to place portion-sized desserts on disposable plates covered with plastic wrap.

St. Cloud Community Food Pantry has been serving St. Cloud for more than 25 years, but the need for nonperishable food items is greater during holidays. Needed the most:

· Canned meals (stews, soups, tuna, ravioli, lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, peanut butter, jelly, beans, meats)

· Canned vegetables

· Fruits (fruit cups, dried fruit, applesauce)

· Grains (cereal, rice, pasta, dried beans)

For the safety of those served by St. Cloud Community Food Pantry, the following cannot be accepted:

· Open packages

· Homemade food

· Perishable food

· Items with expired dates

· Damaged/dented cans

The St. Cloud Community Food Pantry is located on the corner of 9th Street and Missouri Avenue. Its hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.