Boy Scout Troop 91 will host an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner on Saturday, March 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church (CLPC) Family Life Center, 1068 Chestnut Level Road, Quarryville. Tickets may be preordered by contacting troop treasurer Dawn Althoff at 717-278-4735, or they may be purchased at the door.
For the meal, Althoff will make her own homemade sauce along with Parmesan-infused meatballs from a troop member's family recipe. Other adults that support the boy-run troop will prepare or procure the pasta, green salad, bread, dessert, and beverages that will round out the meal. The Scouts will welcome guests and bus tables.
The spaghetti dinner is one of three fundraisers annually hosted by Troop 91. A chicken barbecue is traditionally held on Memorial Day weekend, and a pancake breakfast is offered in the fall. Proceeds from the fundraisers help Troop 91 offset costs of activities. That is important because the troop goes on at least one outing a month. "We try to keep the pricing level for each (troop) event," Althoff remarked, adding that funds are also used to purchase equipment to ensure the Scouts are camping safely and efficiently.
The troop ventures into several states to go camping, but members also spend time closer to home. The annual spring campout always ends at Drumore Park, with the troop members spending several hours cleaning up the park and then planning for the next year of Scouting. Additionally, the troop usually participates in Scouting for Food, but this year, the group collected donations for the food bank at Solanco Neighborhood Ministries in February. The collection was held in conjunction with Scout Sunday at Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church, and it provided much-needed supplies during what tends to be a dry period at the food bank, Althoff said.
Each summer, Troop 91 takes a special trip to a high adventure camp. Last year, the group went to Florida Sea Base, and this year, the Scouts will be going to Philmont.
"It's a good experience for them," Althoff commented. "Sea Base was water-based; they went sailing and caving. This summer, they'll camp along the Appalachian Trail."
Currently, Troop 91 has 25 Scouts in fifth grade through age 18, one Scoutmaster, 16 assistant Scoutmasters, and eight committee members. Althoff noted that the number of adults supporting the troop is significant because it enables them to share responsibilities so the Scoutmaster can focus on the individual troop members.
"We want boys to make their ranks and work toward becoming Eagle Scouts," Althoff said. She noted that Troop 91 has produced nine Eagle Scouts in the past two years. "Some of our Eagle Scouts still come back and help out," she added.
New members are welcome in Troop 91, and anyone interested may visit a meeting. Meetings are held every Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the CLPC Family Life Center.
For more information about Troop 91 or the spaghetti dinner, readers may call or text Althoff at 717-278-4735.
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