Academy benefit dinner raises $10K for fire victims

LEWISTOWN -- A plate of spaghetti never tasted so good in Mifflin County - and certainly never meant so much to those in the community who were affected by the Juniata Terrace fire.

The Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology hosted a spaghetti benefit dinner on Friday night and raised more than $10,000 for the victims of the devastating blaze on Jan. 26.

Eleven homes on the Juniata Terrace were damaged by fire, smoke and water, leaving those families homeless and without basic necessities. Borough officials were contacted within minutes after news struck by not only the Red Cross but many others offering assistance, including the Academy staff and students.

"It was a great turnout," said Laura Hicks, administrative director at the Lewistown school, of the dinner. "We had donations, so that everything we pulled in this evening was completely covered. So we could make donations - 100 percent."

She added that most of the food prepared by Academy students and even paper products were donated by businesses within the community.

Mifflin County School District Superintendent of Schools Vance Varner could not have been more proud of the staff and students' efforts to assist the fire victims as well as the community's response.

"Friday night was another prime example of the positive things Mifflin County - as a community - does," Varner explained. "It was a very positive atmosphere there."

Under heart-breaking circumstances.

Culinary arts students worked in the Academy kitchen area to make the meals, which sold for $10 and included spaghetti with meat sauce, salad, bread and desserts.

While students prepared the meals, the Academy staff was on duty, packing meals for takeout and also helping to ensure the event ran smoothly.

"It was a great turnout tonight," said Hicks, who estimated nearly 800 meals were sold for takeout and another 200 meals were prepared for cafeteria-style diners.

"This was an amazing pull-together for our entire staff and the community," Hicks added.

Staff and students were overwhelmed by the outpouring of community support, which included at least one four-figure donation. "We actually had a $1,000 donation," Hicks said. "Someone came in and bought a meal and donated $1,000 to the cause."