Benefit in Clarendon today includes 250 baskets up for raffle, spaghetti dinners

Photos by Tom Rivers

CLARENDON – Melissa Snider, left, embraces her sister Amanda this afternoon at a benefit for Amanda, who has stage 4 cancer with carcinoma sarcoma. Amanda also has Dandy Walker Syndrome which causes some mental disabilities. This photo was taken near the beginning to today’s benefit which goes until 6 p.m. at the Clarendon Rec Hall.

Melissa organized the benefit with lots of help from family and friends. Morgan Schaffer of Medina saw a promo on social media about the benefit about six weeks ago and she volunteered to help. Schaffer was able to recruit many of her softball buddies to serve in the kitchen and help with today’s benefit.

Melissa said the work on the benefit made her closer to family and friends, and also introduced her to many people.

“I’ve met a lot of amazing people,” she said. “It’s brought a lot of communities together.”

Eric Hackenberg, right, and his daughters Cara, left, and Kalleigh, in back, get 250 spaghetti dinners ready.

The meatballs are by the Bella Pasta Restaurant in Rochester with sauce by Fazool’s Italian Bistro in Rochester.

Hackenberg and his family volunteered to help after Morgan Schaffer helped with a fundraiser for some of their friends who lost their home from a fire in Holley.

Kalleigh Snell works in the kitchen along with Eric Hackenberg, Cara Hackenberg and Janelle Derisley in back left. Derisley said she worked with Amanda Snider when Derisley was with Lifetime Assistance.

“Amanda is a great girl,” Derisley said. “We love her.”

There were about 250 baskets and higher-end items up for raffle.

Proceeds from the benefit will go towards Amanda’s medical care and other bills.