Spaghetti dinner helps food bank

About 700 people ate spaghetti last week to help feed the hungry.

The Columbia County Cares Food Pantry held its annual Family Spaghetti Supper last Thursday at the Marvin United Methodist Church gymnasium.

"This is our fifth year doing this, and every year more and more people turn out," said David Titus, a founder of the event and executive director of Family Connection of Columbia County. "This is our major fund raiser for the year."

The money raised through the dinner allows the pantry to purchase food from the Golden Harvest Food Bank.

"We usually feed anywhere from 600 to 700 people. This year we also had five corporate sponsors which really helped make this a success," said Titus.

The Columbia County Cares food pantry was started in 1997 by Dorothy Myers, who was also in attendance.

"We started off with about four families and within a month we were helping up to 100. We now help up to 300 families a month," she said.

The food pantry also receives regular support from 27 local churches, and donations from school food drives and other local charitable events.

"Many people around here tend to think that just because West Lake and Jones Creek are in this county that no one in the area needs help," said Myers. "There are people in need everywhere, and we're here to help the ones in Columbia County."

The food pantry is able to give families enough food once a month to last at least a week.

"We can't entirely support families with what we give them, but we're able to help supplement their needs and in many cases that helps a good deal," said Myers.

Among those serving at this year's dinner were local volunteers, teachers and youths from the local 4-H program.

The Columbia County Food Pantry is at 6345 Columbia Road, across from the Department of Family Services and can be reached by calling 541-2834. The Family Connection of Columbia County can be reached by calling 556-8090.