By John Lynds
On Friday, November 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. the Salesian Boys & Girls Club will host its Tenth Annual Pasta Dinner at the club located at 150 Byron Street. Salesian Director Father John Nazzaro said tickets to the event are $10 and are free for club members. Also, as in years past, kids eat for free at the annual event.
“This is a community building event,” said Fr. Nazzaro. “A lot of people have donated already who can’t make the event and we have donations from places like East Boston Savings Bank, who is a Gold Sponsor, and others like Massport.”
For the pasta supper, the entire community will help out with food being donated by Jeveli’s Restaurant, Sammy Carlo’s Delicatessen and Muffin Town as well as an amazing sweets table provided by Salesian parents, friends and supporters.
“What we have been able to raise has been going up each year,” said Fr. Nazzaro. “We hope to raise $10,000 to $12,000. It’s a great event and families get to meet each other, the Board of Trustees will be on hand to serve the food, and the club kids will be the waiters for the evening.”
During the dinner there will be a variety of raffles to help raise money for the Boys & Girls Club programs.
“There will be many, many raffle prizes as well as Mariecarole and Steve’s Famous Gift Baskets,” said Fr. Nazzaro. “Everyone is invited from the community at large to our neighbors to the families at the club.”
The Salesian Boys & Girls Club accommodates over 300 young people a day and has over 1,000 youngsters on their active membership. The 300 children who show up daily do so primarily for the Boys and Girls Club’s after school program that costs local families a very modest $20 for the entire year.
“The program serves children ages 6 to 19 from 2:30 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday,” explained Fr. Nazzaro. “We offer computers, after school help, homework help, sports, art and crafts and provide snacks every day at 5:15 p.m.”