St. James School hosts fundraiser dinner at Belvidere Moose Lodge

By Matt Helm

Reporter

BELVIDERE ─ St. James Catholic School held a fundraiser dinner at the Belvidere Moose Lodge #295 on Tuesday, March 19 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“The fundraiser dinner is just to raise the general fund, it takes a lot to run a school,” Anthony Dini, Treasurer of the Home and School Board at St. James Catholic School, said. “We are trying to alleviate the pressure from the parish and from parent tuition. As a parent of three kids at St. James, I can’t complain about that.”

The Moose Lodge #295 provided the food and a location and split profits in half with St. James Catholic School. Tickets were $12 for adults and $8.50 for children 12 and under in advance, and $14 for adults and $10.50 for children at the door.

“The Moose has done a similar set-up with the Keen Age Center,” Dini said. “They will partner with any organization that’s willing to do it. It’s a simple fundraiser and you know what your profit margin will be. Plus, it’s a great way to get everybody together for a nice inexpensive meal while helping a great cause at the same time.”

Dinner was buffet style and included ham, fried chicken, mixed vegetables, potatoes, salad, and rolls. Diners also could participate in a 50/50 raffle.

“I’ve always been taught and raised that you take care of the organizations that your kids are a part of and I have a stake in making sure that St. James is able to provide for my children,” Dini said.

Dini is also a member of the Moose Lodge #295 Board.

“I’ve been through a lot of facets of the Moose as a past governor and I believe in its standards,” Dini said. “We are really trying to get the word out there. We want to be a community partner.”

St. James recently finished a series of Friday Night Fish Fry Dinners for the Lenten season.

“The Fish Fry went excellent and we had some record breaking numbers and the feedback was phenomenal,” Dini said. “We are looking towards next year to be even better.”

On May 31, St. James Catholic Church and First Presbyterian Church will team up with Moose Lodge #295 for another benefit dinner in support of the Compassion Closet, an organization that helps the poor and needy in Boone County.

St. James will host the Arte Verde plant and flower sale on May 14 and May 15 in the parish parking lot.

“The Arte Verde plant sale is another one of our big, important fundraising opportunities,” Kelly Hritz said. “It’s getting to be the time of the year when the weather is nice and people are going to want to put flowers and plants in their yard. We encourage the public to stop on by and check us out.”