UPDATE 2/19/24 5:09 p.m.
ONAWAY — A fundraiser that helps kids who have been burned go to camp was a smashing success.
The 211 Bar & Grill held a spaghetti fundraiser earlier in February, and they were able to raise so much money that they presented a check for almost $22,000 to the Great Lakes Winter Burn Camp that kicked off last Friday in Onaway.
The camp is for kids ages 6 to 17 and runs through Monday. The co-owner of 211, Jeremy Pasella said that’s $2,000 more than they got last year.
“I can’t thank the community, everybody that was involved. It’s outstanding for us to raise that type of money and to have people reach out from all over the state of Michigan and even outside of the state of Michigan is incredible. And I just can’t thank everybody enough for making this happen, " said Pasella.
This is the seventh year they’ve held the fundraiser.
Pasella said every year they raise more money, which is great because the camp is free.
He said since the story first aired, they got a few donations of one $1,000 each from private donors and received more interest from kids from Northern Michigan wanting to attend the camp.
2/7/24 7:30 p.m.
211 Bar in Onaway hosting spaghetti fundraiser for the Great Lakes Burn Camp
ONAWAY — A fundraiser to benefit a burn camp for kids is set to get underway this weekend in Onaway.
The 211 Bar holds a spaghetti fundraiser ever year for the Great Lakes Winter Burn Camp. The dinner takes place on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and features a Chinese raffle, silent auction and a 50-50 drawing.
The camp is for kids ages 6 to 17, and it kicks off Friday, Feb. 16 and runs through Monday. It will be held at the UAW Black Lake Conference Center.
“There’s so much activities that they do for these children and just see them be normal. They’re not looked at different because their body is burned so bad or their parents can relax and environment where these nurses will take care of them when they’re doing this stuff. So to see them be kids was a very humbling experience. And for me, this is like we have to open up our restaurant and give 100% of the proceeds from what everybody does,” Jeremy Pasella, the co-owner of the 211 Bar & Grill, said.
Great Lakes Burn Camp is free and allows kids to meet other kids that are dealing with the same trauma.
To donate to the fundraiser, click here.