Community

St. Vincent de Paul Students Prepare Authentic Italian Food for Gala in Wheeling

As St. Vincent de Paul Parish School students prepare to host the Greenback Gala this weekend, students are rolling up their sleeves and contributing with handmade Italian food.

Students in the seventh and eighth grade at St. Vincent's came together at Marist Hall in Elm Grove on Thursday to create strombolis for the event, which will host more than 350 guests at the Wheeling Park White Palace at 6 p.m. Saturday.

"We've done Greenbacks before and that is the biggest fundraiser that we have here," St. Vincent's Advancement Director John Yelenic said. "I think it is wonderful to have kids learn how to do things in the kitchen. It builds responsibility, so this is great to see."

Students had the option of using assorted meats, cheeses and vegetables in their strombolis, which will serve as appetizers at the fundraiser.

"It is a gala, an auction, a dance and it is a really great way to bring people together," Yelenic said. "It's their first time ever doing this. We thought it'd be cool to do this bake-off because we always do appetizers at the event and we usually pick someone to honor."

This year, the school will honor the Rev. Jim Lacrosse, former Pastor of St. Vincent Parish and Designated Pastor for Wheeling Central Catholic High School. Several cash prizes will be given away, with the largest prize being $10,000 in the evening's raffle competition.

"It is a big benefit to supporting students at the school and it teaches them responsibility. We give away $20,000 total, with one person receiving $10,000 and then five $2,000 winners. It's pretty nice and we do need to make sure we get people in the door," Yelenic said.

St. Vincent's eighth-grade student, Peyton Carpenter, said he is happy to assist with the event because he enjoys being part of the parish community.

"I feel that you get a better Catholic education at (the school). It's more like a family here than any other school. You're not a number -- you are a person and every teacher knows every student here," he said.

According to Yelenic, students of the former Bishop Donahue High School in past years have taken care of the appetizers for the event.

"Bishop Donahue Memorial High School has always done our appetizers because of the culinary program, but now that they are closed, we asked the seventh and eighth graders. We knew they could handle it," Yelenic said.

Other food offered the event will include cheese trays provided by Wheeling Hospital and Riesbeck's. Pizza Hut, which is a partner in education with the school, will be providing pepperoni rolls and chicken.

Raffle tickets are available at the school office. Dinner and dancing tickets are available individually, or by tables of eight.