Community

Photos: Spaghetti dinner to send cheerleaders to nationals

BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Giovanni Aliotta, 5, of Wading River, on the line to be served.

More than 200 people turned out for the Riverhead High School varsity cheerleaders’ spaghetti dinner fundraiser Wednesday evening at the Polish Town Civic Association’s chalet headquarters on Lincoln Avenue.

The civic and its members covered all the costs for the event, which will help the cheerleaders pay for a trip to Florida in February to go to nationals.

PTCA members did the shopping, paid for the food and prepared it — all the girls had to do was to show up and help serve.

They cooked up 20 pounds of spaghetti, 20 pounds of baked ziti, 50 pounds of sausage, 40 pounds of meatballs, salads, and 40 loaves of garlic bread. Parents of the cheerleaders prepared the desserts.

Riverhead Middle School and PAL cheerleaders turned out to show their support as did the Riverhead varsity football team. They also held a 50/50 raffle and handed out two $50 lotto scratch off tickets.

Riverhead Varsity Cheerleading coach Stephanie Piriano said she was overwhelmed by the support the team received from the community.

“It was quite an amazing thing to see so many people come together for my girls,” she said in an email. “I know how hard they work and how much dedication they have, but it was truly gratifying to see that others share in my passion for the kids as well as support them.”

BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | The Riverhead Middle School cheerleaders came to dine and show their support.
BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Mary Jo Gottschalk of Wading River adds some more sauce to the pasta.