It’s that time of year when the Sloatsburg Fire Hall throws open its doors and becomes a popular spaghetti diner, with villagers stopping in for a little homemade sausage and meatball sauce. The Fire Hall lights up this Saturday evening for the annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser that benefits the Sloatsburg D.A.R.E. Program, sponsored by The Friends of Sloatsburg School.
Town of Ramapo Police Officer Chris Dodrill has been in charge of the local D.A.R.E. effort for nearly 10 years now, organizing the program throughout both the East Ramapo and Central Ramapo School Districts. “I’ve seen a lot students, kids of people I went to school with,” said Dodrill, regarding his time spent teaching the D.A.R.E.
The spaghetti dinner is a feature of the annual Sloatsburg program and Dodrill makes the dinner a sort of family affair, with Dodrill’s sister and brother-in-law staffing the kitchen throughout the evening. The family even home cooks the sauce a few days before the event.
Dodrill said he expects a good crowd Saturday, which means upwards of 300 people coming through the Fire House, stopping in to eat during the 5:30-8 p.m. dinner. “People are coming and going, and getting served at different times,” he said. “It really adds up. It’s like controlled chaos.”
Specifically trained in the D.A.R.E. curriculum, Dodrill travels throughout the Town of Ramapo school districts teaching the program to 5th grade classrooms. A national Drug Abuse Resistence Education program started in 1983 by LAPD Chief Daryl Gates, D.A.R.E. is a demand-side drug strategy prevention program. The curriculum focuses on educating kids to act in their own best interest when confronted with peer pressure and other influences related to tobacco, alcohol and drug use.
“D.A.R.E.’s a national program that helps kids, really, to make choices,” said Dodrill. Those choices relate to how kids perceive drugs and alcohol and how they might react in high-peer pressure situations. Although D.A.R.E.’s effectiveness as a drug prevention program has often been challenged, especially its long-term benefits, the program is pioneering in introducing drug enforcement concepts to kids — a sort of early warning program. Local police officers also get an opportunity to interact with kids in a friendly, familiar environment.
Recent studies indicate the program has proven beneficial in both preventing kids from smoking and bullying. Nearly 75% of U.S. classrooms take part in some aspect of the D.A.R.E. curriculum.
The annual spaghetti dinner raises several thousand dollars for the program, which is partially funded by the Town of Ramapo and, minimally, by the school district. Mostly, the program relies on private contributions.
“The support of Supervisor St. Lawrence and Chief Brower has been key,” said Dodrill. “Without them, D.A.R.E. wouldn’t be around.”
The Friends of Sloatsburg School Association, a non-profit, charitable organization formed approximately 5 years ago, sponsors the annual dinner, as well as raises funds for other educational initiatives that benefit Sloatsburg Elementary School and Sloatsburg students. Thomas Bollato serves as the organization’s president.
The Spaghetti Dinner takes place Saturday, March 3 from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Sloatsburg Fire Hall in the Municipal Building. Takeout dinners are from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Sponsored by The Friends of Sloatsburg School, all proceeds from the event benefit the Sloatsburg D.A.R.E. Program. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 3-12. No alcoholic beverages permitted.
Source: Feature image of food courtesy of Tastefoodblog.com.
