Fresh Life Outreach hosts its second Spaghetti Dinner Benefit for Hamburg Area High School music teacher Christine Ryan from 5 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 19 at Hamburg High School cafeteria.
Ashley Clay from Fresh Life Outreach, an extreme sports outreach that hosts free events every other Saturday at the Shoemakersville Skate Park, is organizing the spaghetti dinner. All proceeds go to Ryan to help ease the expenses of an elongated recovery from surgery.
“Our goal is to make a positive influence in this world to any and all who want to come out. We are a family of people, where everyone contributes in their own way,” said Clay about Fresh Life Outreach.
A student of Ryan’s, who regularly attended Fresh Life Outreach events, approached the Outreach in hopes that they could help raise money for Ryan and her family.
“The student wasn’t too fond of school, but Dr. Ryan helped show him a love for music that he will never forget. For her to make such an impact on his life, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to help him show his appreciation for all that she had done for him. That is how the first benefit dinner came about,” said Clay.
At the benefit dinner last year, musical performances were put together by Ryan’s students. The students signed up to help in the kitchen and donated baked goods, as well.
“Some students that didn’t even sign up, with the intentions of only attending the dinner to eat with their families, saw the need for help due to an unexpected turnout, and jumped right in to volunteer,” said Clay.
Also, teachers helped with the sign ups and volunteered at the dinner. The lunchroom staff donated hours.
“They were able to keep the line moving even though we weren’t prepared for the amount of people attending the dinner.”
Clay said tickets purchased prior to the dinner totaled approximately 200. With walk-ins they only expected around 300 people. There were more than 600 tickets by the end of the night.
“This year, I am working hand-in-hand with the staff and students at Hamburg School District in hopes we will have another successful dinner along with musical performances,” said Clay. “The faculty and students at Hamburg School District have been very supportive and helpful throughout both benefit dinners.”
The event will include a baked goods sale and Chinese auction. Menu includes all-you-can-eat spaghetti of choice of meatballs or sausage, salad, bread, and drink, as well as to go packages.
Through organizing the dinners, Clay was able to talk and meet with an incredible number of people who know Ryan.
“It’s amazing how much one person can impact the lives of so many,” she said. “Christine, Christy, Mrs. Ryan, Dr. Ryan; no matter how they met or referred to her as, the result was always the same; they spoke of the time she somehow stamped their lives in a positive way.”
Those who know her were more than willing to contribute and help and those who didn’t know her donated because they saw there was a need, said Clay.
“To see the community come together the way they did was quite an experience which we hope to see again this year,” she said. “In doing these events, I hope Christy Ryan knows how much of an impact she truly has had on her family, students, coworkers, congregation, and the whole community in general. This is our chance to give back to a woman who has given us her all.”
For more information, contact Ashley Clay at 610-914-1336.
