Pasta Served In Mendham For Good Cause

MENDHAM, NJ - Teens heading to Kentucky this summer for the St. Joseph Catholic Church Appalachia Mission Trip recently hosted an alfresco style pasta fundraiser for their upcoming 13th annual mission.

The pasta dinner on May 16 drew over 180 attendees who dined outdoors in a socially distant way in the church parking lot. Backer Farm dished out each made-to-pasta order in individually packaged, to-go containers, with sides of bread and salad. Mendham Creamery scooped out ice cream for dessert from their vintage-style cart.

The event was rounded out with crafts and games for the kids and S’mores toasted over a fire pit.

The 2020 trip was canceled as a result of COVID-19, with the mission trip to Paintsville, Ky., scheduled from June 20 through 26.

While down in Kentucky, 50 teens and their 18 chaperones will work with the Good Neighbors organization on home repair projects for families in need of assistance in that area.

“We are thrilled to be able to return to Kentucky this summer,” said St. Joseph Youth Minister Mark Tosso.

“The mission team has worked hard to ensure the safety of our volunteers, as well as the families we will serve,” he continued.

“The trip allows our parish teens to foster relationships and grow spiritually in our mission to care for others and develop a feeling of community within our parish,” Tosso said.

For more information and to donate to the Appalachia 2021 Trip click here.

Funds raised will assist in defraying costs for travel expenses and will also be used to purchase building supplies.

Questions or comments about this story? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.