By Mindy Ragan Wood
News Editor
There were no leftovers for the taking after Deutschesfest volunteers fed a hungry crowd of more than 625 people Friday night.
One of the perks of enjoying the Lion’s Club dinner of German sausage and homemade sauerkraut is leaving the kitchen at the end of the night with plate for later. This year it was a different story.
“We sold out all the sausage,” Lion’s Club Secretary Tom Schaefer said. “I was worried for little bit that we wouldn’t have enough cooked sausage. We had just enough, but not any more. We’ll buy a little bit extra next year.”
Between the raffle prize money and ticket sales Schaefer believes the club raised $7,000 in profit, $1,000 more than expected.
The dinner usually raises around $6,000 every year to support eye glass exams for the needy and other charitable and educational causes in Okarche and beyond.
The lines were steady from 5 p.m. after it opened to closing at 7 p.m. when volunteers stopped serving. People from Canadian and Kingfisher Counties accounted for most of the crowd, but Schaefer said people from as far as Midwest City attended.
“They said they attend every year,” he said. “We have several who have been coming for years.”
Last Friday’s feast marked the 46th anniversary for the fundraiser.
“We really want to thank the people,” Schaefer said. “This is our one and only fundraiser and we give this money back to the community. We want to give out a big thanks to everyone who attended.”
The Okarche High School basketball boys team turned out to help with heavy lifting and cleanup as did Okarche Elementary 5th and 6th graders who plan to attend Camp Goddard in the spring.
The club helps sponsor the high school boys’ basketball team and contributes to the cost for the camp as well.
The club looks forward to doing a little more this year. Every May the club takes stock of its fund balance and issues $500 scholarships to graduating high school seniors with its remaining funds.
“We’ve been able to give six to seven scholarships,” Schaefer.
