Something is cooking at the Casselton United Methodist Church in Casselton

By Jacqueline M. Dotzenrod

Something is cooking at the Casselton United Methodist Church in Casselton.

The UMC youth group, TLG (Teens Living for God) is putting together a Valentine’s Day dinner that is open to the public.

“When we talked at the beginning of the year about things that they wanted to do for fundraisers, they asked if they could cook,” youth group leader Becky Dunker said. “I threw this idea out at them and they were all over it.”

This isn’t the first fundraiser dealing with food that the kids have done.

“One of the gal’s grandmas came in and helped them make rolls one Wednesday afternoon and they served them on Sunday morning,” Dunker added. “At Christmas time, they made some cookie mixes in jars and they used them for the silent auction. They like to do stuff like this.”

The money raised helps the group do fun things like going bowling or to the movies.

“We went to the corn maze in Valley City last year,” Dunker said. “And the kids want to do a ski trip next year.”

The group consists of about 10 to 12 members ranging from seventh grade to senior year at Central Cass high school. They meet regularly every-other Wednesday.

“It’s a place you can come and hang out with your friends and you don’t have to worry about what anyone else thinks about what you’re doing,” junior Whitney Monilaws said.

And while they enjoy the outings, the kids also enjoy doing the fundraising process.

“They’re very willing to do the work,” Dunker said. “The kids get really excited about doing things like this. They like to cook and they like to serve.”

The menu for the Valentine Supper starts with a salad, continuing to a main course of either chicken fettuccini or marinated chicken breast with vegetables and breadsticks. Cheesecake and chocolate-covered strawberries will be served for dessert.

“My favorite part is eating it after you made it,” seventh grader Soren Butler said.

“It’s fun seeing what concoction you can come up with,” seventh grader Tanner Monliaws added. “Everyone should know that there’s going to be great food.”

The group is also providing babysitting for the evening, which includes a kid’s meal of macaroni and cheese, hot dogs and a cookie.

“Not every couple gets a nice, relaxing evening, because they don’t have time or they have kids,” eighth grader Allie Seely said. “So we’d like to help.”

The group will also be selling flowers at the dinner.

“I thought it was going to be a small-scale thing,” Dunker said. “But the kids hope to fill the whole church.”

Reservations are being taken for the dinner.

“Being that we’ve never done this before, and now that we’re opening it up to the community, we really need to have an idea of how many are coming so we know how much food to buy and prepare,” Dunker said. “And if it looks like it’s getting out of hand, we can cut off reservations. So it’s really important to get your reservation in early.”

To make reservations, call Scott or Becky Dunker at 347-5423.