Good food will be in abundance this Saturday as people gather for a pasta dinner fundraiser to support Suffolk’s Relay for Life.

The heavily Italian menu will feature all homemade dishes including spaghetti, baked ziti, meatballs and garlic bread. All the food will be cooked by Scott Anderson with the help of his wife and mother-in-law. Anderson wakes up early the morning of the event to cook the pasta sauce from scratch.

Anderson is part of the leadership committee for Relay for Life, and part of his job is to bring the people. He also decided to bring his fundraiser to Relay for Life.

“I do the pasta fundraiser for outreach and missions at my church, and the church is allowing me to use the facilities for Relay for Life,” Anderson said.

The event will be held at Whaleyville United Methodist Church, 6312 Whaleyville Blvd., from 4:30 to 7:40 p.m. on April 21.

The church will also be involved in providing the desserts for the fundraiser. There will be an assortment of homemade treats from members of the congregation.

Patrons have the opportunity to RSVP to the event on the Suffolk Relay for Life Facebook page. Those who want to can just reply directly to the fundraiser event, Anderson said. It’s not required to RSVP, and they don’t plan on turning anyone away as long as they have enough food.

“There is always enough food to go around,” Anderson said. “Nobody has ever complained about leaving one of these things hungry. The baked ziti is so filling on its own, because it’s loaded with cheese and meat.”

The dinner costs $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under, and children under 3 are free of charge.

Not only will they have delicious food, but guests will have the opportunity to purchase luminaria bags and even decorate them. They will also be accepting canned food donations for the luminaria ceremony during Relay for Life.

“We are accepting canned food donations at the dinner, which are used to weigh down the bags. After Relay for Life is over, they get donated to the food bank, so they serve a dual purpose,” Anderson said.

Anderson’s involvement with Relay for Life started with helping out his wife at her job, but eventually, Dana DeFreeuw approached them about being event leads. There is also an aspect of personal involvement, because Anderson’s mother was a cancer survivor for 28 years before succumbing to uterine cancer.

Anderson hopes to raise at least $500 from the event.