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Saturday, October 12, 2024
Spaghetti dinner returns to Queenston fire hall

For Rob Copeland, spaghetti dinner at the Queenston fire hall is more than just a fundraiser.

The all-you-can-eat dinner is returning to town on Friday, May 3, and Copeland is busy getting ready for the big night.

“After the long winter, getting people out in nice weather, getting villagers to see and meet everybody, it’s a real community get-together. That’s what we emphasize,” said Copeland, president of the Queenston Volunteer Firefighter Association.

Volunteer firefighters have been holding spaghetti dinners since 1996.

“It’s just really enjoyable to help build on community spirit and that’s what we do,” Copeland told The Lake Report. “It’s not strictly a fundraiser … It’s really nice.”

The event takes place twice a year and money goes toward different local charities and organizations. Last year, about $1,000 was raised at each dinner.

Over the past few years, the association has donated money to such organizations as Newark Neighbours, Niagara District Firefighters Association, Royal Canadian Air Cadets, Niagara Youth Orchestra, St. Davids Public School library as well as NOTL minor soccer, minor lacrosse and minor softball associations. 

When a wildfire destroyed much of Fort McMurray in 2016, volunteers donated money there as well. They also helped a St. Davids boy who was in need of a guide dog, said Copeland.

“If there is a specific cause for that year, then (money) goes into our general fund which is donated out through request,” Copeland said in an interview.

For the last couple of years, raffle prizes for the evening were provided by Graham Keene, owner of the Canadian Tire store on Welland Avenue in St. Catharines.

The dinner is from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for an adult and $5 for children aged 12 and under.

This year, the draw prize is a Magellan Explorist hand-held GPS navigator and a Schwinn Wayfarer bicycle.

“Hopefully, we get a lot of people out,” said Copeland. “We’ve got a good draw prize.”

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