HUNTINGTON - More than 35 years ago, Mary Moffat Jones helped to organize what became an annual spaghetti dinner at Meadows Elementary.

She was the president of the Parent-Teacher Organization, and had the students -- including daughters Amy and Kate -- take part in the fundraiser by making decorations for the tables.

Through the years, the theme has remained. For the Friday, March 12, spaghetti dinner at Meadows, her granddaughter, Anastasia Jones-Burdick, is following in step.

"I remember making tissue paper flowers and a flower pot to put on the table," said Amy Moffat Jones-Burdick, who is co-chairing this year's event. "And my daughter is making a flower pot as part of her third-grade art project this year for the tables."

During Jones-Burdick's time at school, both of her parents served as the PTO president. Her sister, Kate, attended Meadows with her, and now has a daughter in the pre-kindergarten program there.

The family has even helped to secure several corporate sponsors of the event, including Mary Moffat Jones Interiors and Cabell Huntington Hospital where Dr. Hoyt Burdick, Amy's husband, works.

Fundraisers like this dinner help the PTO provide the school with a variety of services and items that wouldn't otherwise be available.

They have used funds to provide playground equipment, technology for classroom use and even provide the salary for the school librarian, said Susan Gatewood, PTO member.

The group has already sold 170 presale tickets, and has had as many as 300 people attend in the past few years.

Gatewood said the dinner is a great place for the community to come and see the positive things happening at Meadows.

"There are a lot of good things going on at Meadows and a lot of good caring teachers," Gatewood said. "That is why I love that my children go there, and why I love that I am able to substitute (teach) there sometimes."

Gatewood has a child in the third grade and another in the pre-kindergarten program at Meadows. Her oldest child "graduated" from the elementary and is now in middle school.

In addition to the dinner, there will also be a raffle for large themed baskets put together by the students and teachers. Raffle tickets are $1 per ticket, and can be purchased at the dinner.

There will also be a Students Against Drunk Driving display, plenty of students' art work to view and a preplanned book swap for students to "recycle" their books by swapping them out for different books.

Principal Elizabeth Green said that it is helpful to have so many parent volunteers involved with the PTO and fundraising.

"It's critical to the school. We have to have parent volunteers," said Green, who has spent the past few years helping to serve at the dinner. "We couldn't do it without them.

Green said that businesses are a helpful when generating the funds. A good portion of the food items are donated, so there is only a small cost to the school.

The dinner is from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 12, at the school. Tickets sold at the door are $20 for a large family, $6 for adults and $4 for children. Children 5 years and younger are free. The price includes a meal, drinks and desserts.

Although Jones-Burdick is a full-time psychologist at River Park Hospital, she hopes to continue helping at the annual fundraiser that her mother first organized.

"I have tried to be active in Anastasia's schooling and help as much as I can with fundraising projects at school," she said. "I am not sure I will be able to follow in my parent's foot steps, but I hope to try."

National Video