INDIAN RIVER- Members of the community turned out to show their support for the LaHaie family by attending a spaghetti benefit dinner at the Indian River Masonic Lodge in memory of Alexia "Lexi" LaHaie.
The dinner was by donation and featured spaghetti with homemade sauce, rolls, salads and several options for desserts. All funds raised at the event went to help the LaHaie family with anything they needed after Lexi died in a car accident in November.
"We served about 130 people," said Tammy Kauffman, event co-coordinator. "We made around $1,000 for the family."
A large portion of the items needed for the event were donated by family and local businesses. Ken's Village Market donated the spaghetti sauce, the Masonic Lodge donated the rolls, Manzana's Restaurant in Onaway donated half a sheet of brownies and Onaway Subway donated a tray of cookies.
Ryan LaHaie donated the ground beef for the sauce, Georgina and Chris Latoszynski donated the remaining items needed.
Kauffman said many people also donated the desserts that accompanied the dinner and also helped serve the meal. Many also stayed after and helped clean up after the event.
The Grand Lodge of Freemasons in Michigan also matched the funds raised at the dinner up to a certain dollar amount.
The Indian River Masonic Lodge also sponsored the dinner, and all of the donations made to the family were tax deductible.
At the hall, there were tables set up around the room with photos of Lexi and members of her family and friends stood around, sharing hugs and memories about the wonderful young lady.
Lexi worked at McDonald's in Indian River and was on her way to work when she lost control on the icy roads and slid sideways into a large box truck. She was 17 years old.
The event ran from 1-6 p.m., long enough for the friends, family and coworkers of LaHaie to make it to the dinner to show their support.
"It was a huge success thanks to the family, friends and community members," said Kauffman.