Crosby Lions Club Raises $2K at First-Ever Fundraiser

When the Crosby Evening Lions Club opened the doors to their first-ever fundraiser, supporters were so eager they showed up an hour early.

The spaghetti dinner at Crosby Brethren Church wasn't just about pasta and sauce. Just weeks before, this newly formed club had screened over 125 children at a local Christmas festival and discovered more than 30 needed eye exams or glasses they couldn't afford.

Club president Deanna Becker watched as the parish hall filled with neighbors ready to eat and give. Chef Vasso Espinosa, a former high school teacher, led the kitchen with help from development director Lee Ann Lockwood.

But the real stars were the students from Crosby High School's Leo Club. About a dozen teens worked in two shifts, running an assembly line that would make a restaurant proud.

They plated meals, carried out large orders, stacked chairs, cleaned tables, and even moved cars to make room for more guests. Sponsor Roberto Cruz beamed with pride watching them work.

"They ran a very tight ship assembly line style," Cruz said. Lockwood, who works with many of the same students through Churches United In Caring, called them "amazing help in that kitchen."

Espinosa turned the evening into a teaching moment, coaching students as they prepped plates. The fundraiser became both a service project and a hands-on class in hospitality.

By 6 p.m., every table was full. Friends lingered over meals, turning the dinner into an impromptu community reunion.

The numbers told the success story. Over 125 tickets sold, close to $2,000 raised, and almost perfect food planning. Only one pan of spaghetti remained, which the club donated to the Crosby Volunteer Fire Department.

The Ripple Effect

The Lions devoted their entire next meeting to reviewing what worked. They're already planning improvements for the next fundraiser, like starting at 5 p.m. to catch people coming home from work.

But the biggest win wasn't the money. It was watching high schoolers lead, neighbors gather, and a small community prove that when people show up for each other, good things multiply.

Every dollar raised goes toward eye exams and glasses for local children who need them. The club meets twice monthly at Crosby Brethren Church, and new members are always welcome.

One spaghetti dinner just showed Crosby what's possible when a small group decides to serve.