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zVFW Spaghetti dinner held last week
Mercer-Prieto VFW Post 2043 held its annual Spaghetti Dinner last week at the Santa Paula Community Center. For $8 a plate guests received a generous portion of spaghetti with meat sauce, bread and a salad, plus dessert. Proceeds from the event go to various organizations that the Post supports each year. The dinner usually brings in over 300 people. People had the choice of dining in or getting take-out plates. (Above) Diners are served by VFW members.
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Fellowship and food on the menu of annual VFW Spaghetti Dinner
October 23, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
The Mercer-Prieto VFW Post 2054 served fellowship and food to more than 300 supporters at their annual Spaghetti Dinner held October 15 at the Community Center.
Quartermaster/Adjutant Rey Frutos was selling tickets and noted that the members of the post, among the most active in Ventura County, had been on KP (kitchen) duty since 2 p.m. to prepare for the event.
Ernestine Watson stopped by the table to offer a donation in addition to the bargain price of the meal; she also had some questions and Frutos offered advice on finding out about veterans benefits.
Diners also enjoyed the jazz guitar of musician Barry Cooper.
“We had people waiting at the door,” way before dinner was served said Post Commander Jerry Olivas.
And he noted as he looked around the crowded Community Center, “We usually get a rush of people — but it’s been a rush all night!”
Olivas said Vons supermarket had donated the French bread to make the toast heavy with butter and garlic, just one of the side dishes served with the heaping portions of pasta with meat sauce.
“I love spaghetti!” said Olivas. “I like to take some home and have it tomorrow...the flavor gets richer overnight in the refrigerator. The recipe has been passed down for years,” originating with Past Post Commander Jack Schneider.
Noted Olivas, “We don’t deviate from his recipe!”
There was no doubt the spaghetti was good judging by those supporters that were purchasing 10 to 20 dinners for take out.
But the veterans do more than cooking, set up and tear down: “A few years back we saw that some of our elderly citizens were having trouble,” so the VFW crew started assisting them through the line and packaging for take home.
Widows of veterans are also invited as special guests of the VFW.
Past Post Commander Fred Osuna was on hand enjoying himself at the Spaghetti Dinner, the Post’s largest fundraiser and the only event that directly benefits the community.
“Our Poppy Sale is for veteran programs but the Spaghetti Dinner is the only one entirely for the community,” to help fund local programs and activities.
Added Olivas, “We really appreciate the community support...Barry Cooper contacted us and volunteered to play for free. People really enjoy him and the dinner...they start asking months in advance when we’re going to have our Spaghetti Dinner!
