Spaghetti will not be the only thing served on Sunday, July 27, at the Morabito Community Center in Cortlandt Manor, about four miles from Peekskill. Alongside pasta and meatballs, the event will serve pride, autonomy, and community. This marks the first annual Spaghetti Dinner organized by the Nor-West Rotary Community Corps (RCC Nor-West). A new generation of Rotarian leaders—some with intellectual and developmental disabilities—are coming together with the support of the Rotary Club of Cortlandt Manor and Nor-West Regional Services to serve their community.

“I hope that the people attending will leave feeling like they supported a great new organization of Do-Gooders who are only beginning their journey of learning how to organize and execute projects where they can be of service to their community,” said Cynthia Weil, President of the Rotary Club of Cortlandt Manor.

Under her leadership, the club has launched projects focused on accessibility, literacy, and support for historically marginalized populations. For Weil, community service is not a symbolic gesture—it is a concrete tool for building inclusion.

Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Over music, laughter, warm conversation, and a shared meal, attendees will learn about the group’s mission and the nonprofit it has chosen to support through the evening’s proceeds: Xavier Society for the Blind, which produces braille and audio books for people who are blind or have low vision.

Members were deeply excited to choose the beneficiary for their first fundraiser. After evaluating several options, they unanimously selected Xavier Society, largely due to its willingness to actively engage with the group. “Only the Xavier Society was willing to send a speaker to the RCC meeting to present and therefore they are the sole recipient for this year,” Weil added.

A Spectacular Evening

The event will run through 7 p.m. and will feature live music by DJ Nick Michaels of EP Event Group, a photo booth, community raffles, local prizes, and a 50/50 promotion. The venue has a capacity of over 170 people. Though organizers are unsure whether the event will sell out, their goal is clear. “We do not expect to sell out for our first event but we are shooting for the moon just the same,” joked Weil.

The dinner will include spaghetti with meatballs, salad, bread, soft drinks, cupcakes, coffee, and tea—but beyond food, the night is designed to raise visibility, build connections, and inspire others. “We hope that our guests will spread the word that there is an organization that promotes the participation of disabled adults to become active in community service.”

Tickets are available at $15 for adults, $10 for youth ages 6–17, and free for children under 5. Reservations are required. Payments may be made via phone with a credit card. For more information or to contact the club directly, email [email protected] or call 914-246-0135.

The Birth of the RCCs

The idea to form this new RCC arose after the Keon Center in Peekskill—where a previous community corps once operated—closed. The Keon Center, a state-supported facility that provided employment opportunities for adults with disabilities, left a gap in community engagement when it shut down.

“One of the members of the Rotary Club of Cortlandt Manor was at a Chamber event… when they heard that Nor-West Regional Services moved… The idea of a new RCC made up of the same population was born,” Weil recalled.

Several of the current RCC Nor-West members were also part of the former Keon RCC. Many have previous experience organizing fundraisers and enthusiastically contributing to their community. “They have done it before and are excited to be doing it again,” Weil concluded.