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Nonprofits cook up fundraisers to feed hungry turnout
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Election food
Do your civic duty and vote today. Then, support another cause — Election Day food fundraisers — and be persuaded by what appeals most to your taste buds.
There are ethnic and all-American choices and baked goods to satisfy any sweet tooth.
On Monday at Assumption Social Center, Linda Wibly was fielding calls from people wanting to order stuffed cabbage. Wibly called herself a “gal Friday” at the center operated by St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, in Youngstown. She’s the church secretary, catering manager and a cantor.
“We didn’t take orders this year,” Wibly said of the Election Day food sale. “It’s first-come, first-serve.”
About 14 members of St. Mary’s volunteered last Saturday at the center, where they made 90 dozen stuffed cabbage. That means they rolled 1,080 stuffed cabbages. “Last year, we made 165 dozen,” Wibly said, noting that was because the church took orders.
“This year, we decided to make a certain number and whoever gets here gets some,” Wibly said. Assumption Social Center, which caters events, offers stuffed cabbage as part of its menu. “People love it,” she said.
Wibly said the volunteers prepared for the marathon session by cooking the cabbage and freezing it and getting some of the other ingredients ready. On Saturday, the filling was made and the rolling began. “Some people were here at 8 a.m., and it went on until about 5 p.m.,” Wibly said. “The last two volunteers left at 7.”
Whether you call it stuffed cabbage, pigs in a blanket, halupki in Slovak, holbuki in Lithuanian holbuki, golumpki or golabki in Polish, or sarma in Serbian and Croatian, the taste — all slightly different — is an ethnic delight for the palate.
Assumption Social Center is a polling site in the 4th Ward for eight precincts. “We expect a big turnout,” Wibly said. There also will be baked goods for sale. Proceeds benefit the Slovak church, which has about 200 families.
At Liberty Assembly of God Church in Liberty, the women’s ministries will sponsor a roast beef dinner. “We’ve always done something on Election Day. Though before it’s been soup, sloppy joes and hot dogs,” said Carla Brown, chairwoman. The dinner is a more ambitious undertaking.
The dinner of roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, and salad rolls will be complemented by desserts of pies and cakes made by church members.
“We’ve always had good support from the poll workers. We decided to try this dinner because it’s a presidential election,” she said. The church is a polling site, and “we expect a good turnout.”
Brown said a portion of the proceeds from the dinner will benefit the church’s Christmas stockings for inner-city children. “This year, we hope to do 100 Christmas stockings,” Brown said, adding that the stockings are filled with coloring books, crayons and personal-care items. “Some of the money stays in the community,” she said. Some funds will go to missionaries.
Doris Puerner is chairwoman of the spaghetti dinner sponsored by Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Canfield at Canfield High School. “I’m guessing we’ve been having this about 10 years,” she said, and she’s been chairwoman for five or six years.
Puerner said the church membership pitches in by making the spaghetti sauce in their home kitchens. “We have a recipe that everyone follows,” she said. She also noted the church buys the meat, spaghetti and cheese locally to support area businesses, which in turn help out the church.
“We have a good following. Some people come for one lady’s pies ... she usually makes about 20, all different kinds,” Puerner said. An added attraction is entertainment by the Canfield Community Band.
Last year, the church served 387 dinners. “We’re expecting to serve between 600 and 700 this year because it’s a presidential election,” she said.
Puerner said eat-in or take-out options are offered and the dinner is supported by people voting, teachers, students and poll workers. “We know of some business that buy advance tickets for their employees,” she said.
Proceeds benefit maintenance of Lord of Life and Operation Blessing at Canfield Presbyterian Church that distributes groceries and holiday help to the needy. “Any leftovers from the dinner, we donate them to the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley,” Puerner said.
Helen Fotiuk was busy making apple strudel on Monday for the bake sale and luncheon being sponsored by Saxon Club, Ladies Branch 22, the group she has led for 15 years.
“This is our first one for Election Day,” she said, but noted the group has sponsored various other fund-raisers. Though the Youngstown club is not a polling place this year, Fotiuk said she thought the club still would attract customers because a polling place is nearby.
“Chicken dumpling soup is one of our specialities, and the baked goods are all homemade,” she said. “German sausage sandwiches are good sellers.”
Proceeds benefit scholarships and the memorial island to deceased members at the club.
Deborah Dory and Kristen Newbrough, teachers at Summit Academy, are coordinators of the “Pasta for Prom” dinner. “It’s a fundraiser to help lower the cost of the prom for students so that more can attend,” Dory said.
The pasta, meatball and salad dinner will feature “homemade sauce,” Dory said. “The whole staff helped out with donations. We’re committed to these kids beyond the classroom.” Students were involved in menu planning.
The event also will have a “scrumptious dessert table,” Dory said, noting there will be pies, cakes, pudding and more.
The academy in Youngtown serves students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Asperger’s syndrome and other emotional challenges.