Riverview High School music department's drive-thru pasta dinner fundraiser set

Riverview High School music department’s annual pasta fundraiser will be a little different this year due to covid-19 restrictions.

A drive-thru event is set for Sunday, March 28 from 3:30 p.m. until the food runs out at the high school, 100 Hulton Road.

The Easter bunny will be on hand giving treat-filled eggs to families.

No registration is required. The cost is $10 and includes pasta, sauce, meatball, breadstick, side salad and two cookies.

The food is prepared and served fresh by the high school cafeteria staff.

Participants will turn off Third Street by the bus loop; drive down a service road to the cafeteria, where volunteers will bring out the food; and exit back onto Third Street.

“Our main goal is to try and get a little bit of unity and interest and remind the kids that we’re still here and still care and keep up morale,” said Abbe Entwisle, president of Riverview Music Boosters Association. “The purpose of something like this would be to make the community aware of the music department and aware of some of the great things that go on at the high school.”

The group usually organizes the pasta dinner in January or February indoors with performances by the students, basket raffles and a bake sale.

However, pandemic safety protocols have forced event organizers to take a different approach. Weather was also a factor in delaying the event due to it being outside.

“We look forward to the performances. The kids look forward to the performances, but we are under a lot of constraints that make that difficult this year,” Entwisle said. “We’re really going to be compliant with everything, masks and social distancing.

“We’re just hoping to put a smile on people’s faces and get them to want to come out.”

The pandemic also forced music students and staff to make significant adjustments and cancel events last year including a trip to New York to see Broadway productions and the jazz band’s December concert.

“I think we’re a very resilient bunch,” she said. “I think you have to be, and I think everyone is eager to get back to some sort of normal. We’re hopeful in the future, especially next year, we can have more of a regular school year with our typical performances with people in attendance.”

There is no set goal for the drive-thru event as far as how many dinners will be served or a financial benchmark.

People can also specify which student they want to support. Proceeds go toward future music department activities.

Entwisle hopes they have success like Hoffstot’s Cafe Monaco in Oakmont, which incorporated drive-thru specials in its neighboring parking lot to boost revenue and help its employees through the various shutdowns and dining restriction changes.

Superintendent Neil English said he supports the effort.

“We appreciate the creativity, hard work, and support of the Riverview Music Booster Association,” English said. “This will certainly be a great event for our Riverview families that choose to participate. Go Raiders.”

More information is available at the band’s Facebook page or by email at rhs_rmba@yahoo.com.