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Community spaghetti dinner benefits Booth Memorial programs.
by Micki Hempsmyer –
Community members enjoy the spaghetti dinner with Captain Daniel Freeman and daughter Alexandra. |
Recently the Boise Corps held its 16th annual spaghetti feed fundraiser on the campus of the Booth Memorial facility, hosted by Corps Officers Captains Daniel and Doreen Freeman.
Since 1921 Booth Memorial has been a beacon of hope for women, children and families. The historic facility initially served as Idaho’s first and only birthing hospital and home for unwed mothers. Eventually, an accredited school for pregnant and parenting teens and daycare replaced the hospital and home. Today, Booth is also the site of a SAFE Center emergency housing facility, the only provision for homeless families in Ada County, Idaho. Family Services, conducted at Booth until recently, has been relocated, and provides resources to at least one in 20 residents of the county every year. The annual spaghetti feed supports these life-affirming programs.
“The spaghetti feed has become Boise Corps’ signature event,” said Rick Hempsmyer, director of development and community relations for Boise Corps. “It has grown from about 100 to approximately 500 attendees over the years, and helps donors connect with the programs they support.”
“The event was emceed by a local radio duo,” reported Freeman. “We had tours of the facility, horse-drawn carriage rides, items to bid on by silent auction and, of course, spaghetti.”
More than 350 volunteers, Boise staff, and Booth students and teachers came together, raising more than $20,000 for the programs. Thanks to the unparalleled history of service offered for 85 years at the Booth Memorial campus, the name of Booth will always be synonymous with compassion in Boise.