Dayton Kiwanis hopes to turn pasta into presents

This holiday season, when the members of the Kiwanis Club of Dayton Township think of red, it has nothing to do with Santa's suit.

The club is hoping that its homemade red spaghetti sauce will net them a little green to provide a better Christmas for children in need.

Saturday, the club will host its 16th annual Spaghetti Feed from 5-8 p.m. at Dayton Elementary School. The money raised will be used to take 51 children from Dayton Elementary, Sutro Elementary and Silver Stage Elementary in Silver Springs on a shopping spree.

"The number of children has increased for the last several years because the town is growing so fast," said Gayle Larsen, event chairwoman and club secretary.

The club hopes to raise approximately $4,000 to provide the children with a $75 shopping spree.

"We started doing the spree because we thought that would be a huge benefit for our community. We do a lot with the schools, pancake breakfasts and scholarships," Larsen said.

Ten members of the group will begin cooking at 8 a.m. Saturday morning, expecting to prepare 50 pounds of ground beef, 20 pounds of sausage, 10 pounds if onions, 50 pounds of spaghetti, 30 loaves of bread and 40 pounds of lettuce.

"Last year we had a little crowd of about 210 people. Usually we get 400-plus people, but the weather has a lot to do with it," Larsen said.

The auction will feature a silent auction including dinners, construction services, art and gifts from local merchants.

This is Larsen's first year working with the Kiwanis, but she said she feels the feed exemplifies her reason for joining.

"I wanted to do something in the community that I thought supported children. My husband is a big advocate of teaching children music," Larsen said. "They are the only hope we have."

If you go

What: Kiwanis Club of Dayton Valley All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Feed

When: 5-8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Dayton Elementary School, 285 Old Dayton Valley Road

Cost: $6 for adults, $3 for children ages 4-10. Tickets are available at the door

Call: 246-9336 or 781-1619

• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.