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South Range seniors serve supper in Salem to those in need
NORTH LIMA
Two South Range High School students will expand their senior service project to feed those in need at the Banquet in Salem on Monday.
Robbie Matos and Mitch Dolak began their service project by raising money at a youth basketball tournament.
The dinner will be hosted from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Salem Memorial Building, 785 E. State St., by South Range’s basketball team.
They cut out paper basketballs and sold them for a $1 donation each during tournaments. Those who purchased the basketballs got to write on them and hang them in South Range’s halls.
Other schools attending the tournament contributed by purchasing the paper basketballs or donating, as well.
Steve Matos, Robbie Matos’s father and South Range Elementary School principal, said the project started out small. Robbie Matos and Dolak sold the basketballs every weekend of the tournament.
Soon after, they started making some announcements at the high school and the service project picked up. Donations came in from various competitions between teachers, students and members of the community.
From there, Robbie Matos and Dolak channeled their efforts to take on a Monday dinner at the Banquet in Salem. The Banquet in Salem serves free dinners every Monday and fourth Thursday, through donations, to anyone who comes.
Team members will serve and provide cleanup.
“It is a really great opportunity, not just for Mitch and I, but for the team to help serve our community and come closer as a team,” Robbie Matos said. “All of the help we’ve received is amazing and without it none of this would’ve been possible.”
Dolak said it’s an honor to help those in need.
“It has actually been a lot of fun planning, and through the generosity of a lot of people, we are able to make this happen,” Dolak said.
The dinner is free and open to anyone in need of a dinner.
Donations will be collected until the day of the dinner. If anyone wants to make a donation, they can contact Steve Matos at 330-549-5578.