It was an evening of laughter, music, smiles, and pasta on Saturday night, February 28. One minute lame jokes about pasta were being shared. Another minute, raffle prize numbers were being called out. The next minute, the entire room was playing kazoos to a popular love song. It was Unity Church of Raleigh’s sixteenth annual Hearts in Unity lasagna fundraiser, an event that delighted guests with a homemade lasagna dinner with all the trimmings, entertainment, and raffles. Approximately sixty people attended the party, which honored long-time Fun(d)Raising Team leader and event creator Betty Sari, who made her transition in December. 

UCR Music Director and HIU DJ Gregg Bockover led the sing-alongs, teased the brain with a Love Song Name that Tune game, and judged the lasagnas: Best Veggie Lasagna went to Susan Riggs and Best Meat Lasagna was awarded to Megan Macpherson. Event Co-Chair Pat Bond led a series of fun games, including Valentine’s True-False and Left-Right-Left. Co-Chair Melanie Raskin managed the raffles. Best of all, the church raised $1,887.

Many thanks to the Fun(d)Raising Team: Pat Bond, Melanie Raskin, Sharon Shehdan, Nancy Davison, Steven Fried, Morgan Alonso, Ken Sari, and Elaine Caldwell. Special thanks to Pat and Gregg for the entertainment; Mary Butler for her excellent leadership of the kitchen and decor team (Pat Bond, Mary Jane Landry, Morgan Alsonso, Becca Haynes, Melanie Raskin, Sharon Shehdan, Ruth Letvinchik, and Dorothy Muccio); salad donor Nancy Davison; bread donor Morgan Alonso;  lasagna donors Jessica Miller, Melanie Raskin, Megan Macpherson, Susan Riggs, Rachel Fitch, Tara Bertini, and Ann Thompson; dessert donors Mary Jane Landry, Anne Kingston, Fay Munson, Lissette Hernandez, Simone Dewy, Ruth Letvinchik, and Cathie Ledwell; and raffle donors Morgan Alonso, Barbara Miller, Melanie Raskin, Steven Fried, Pat Bond, Nitia Steward, Ken Sari, Nancy Smith, Anne and Alan Smith, Rachel Fitch, Dorothy Muccio, Sharon Shehdan, Nancy Davison, Mary Butler, and Laura Dearth. Servers Doug Walters, Jessica Miller, Cathie Ledwell, and Dorothy Muccio kept the lasagnas moving and the clean-up crew of, well, everyone tidied, transforming our Italian bistro back into a church by the end of the fun evening. 

Want to join this Fundraising Team that is all about community-building and fundraising? Reach out to the church office: ucrprograms@gmail.com, 919.870.7364. All are welcome!