News: Neillsville - Spaghetti Supper for Charity (2021)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Strangfeld

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/10/2021

Spaghetti Supper to Support Smiling for Samuel (2021)

Spaghetti Supper to Support Smiling for Samuel
By Valorie Brecht

March 18 is National Trisomy 18 Awareness day. An upcoming event will help to raise awareness and support families whose lives have been affected by infant loss.

Smiling for Samuel, a local non-profit, will host a drive-through spaghetti supper at the American Legion Post 73, 6 Boon Blvd., Neillsville, on March 18 from 4 to 8 p.m.

“The spaghetti dinner is the first formal fundraiser this year… This will be our primary one for the spring,” said Sierra Strangfeld, co-founder of Smiling for Samuel along with her husband, Lee.

Sierra and Lee were pregnant with their second child in 2019 when they found out their baby boy was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 (T18), a rare chromosomal condition that causes abnormalities in many parts of the body, such as heart and lung defects. Most babies with T18 die before they are born. Sierra and Lee’s son, Samuel was born on Sept. 5, 2019, and they enjoyed three hours with him before he passed.

To keep Samuel’s legacy alive, Sierra and Lee decided to spread awareness of T18 and share their story in hopes of helping others going through the same type of challenges. They founded Smiling for Samuel to support families who suffer infant and child loss and also parents going through the journey of T18.

Fundraising has been difficult this year, but the Strangfelds felt the spaghetti supper would be a good opportunity.

“Due to COVID and the restrictions put in place, we decided this would be the best route. We can do curbside and pick up, all while giving households a break from cooking supper. Who doesn’t love spaghetti?” said Sierra.

The meal will include the choice of meat, Alfredo or plain sauce with noodles; homemade breadsticks; homemade cookies and milk. The cost is $7 for ages 13 and up, $5 for ages five to 12, and $3 for ages four and under. People can call 715-743-3859 to reserve meals ahead of time.

There will also be an early bird drawing for tickets purchased before March 11. The prizes will include $50 in cash or Smiling for Samuel apparel by JBC Screenprinting and Embroidery. Tickets are available at Family Roots Hair Salon, the Legion and The Brickyard Bar & Restaurant.

Money from the fundraiser will go to support several initiatives Smiling for Samuel has in the works, including providing memory boxes to families that have recently lost an infant or child.

“We will be putting funds [towards] our ongoing infant loss projects and helping families on their journey of Trisomy 18. This year we plan to work closely with the funeral homes to help families financially who experience infant loss. We are also in the very early stages of a very exciting project. We are working towards our plans of establishing a memorial that bereaved families can visit and honor their child(ren). But again, it’s in the very early stages so I don’t have [many] details to share. But we are very excited to keep making a difference in our community,” said Sierra.

She said there were also plans for a 5K run/walk in the fall.

For more information, visit smilingforsamuel.org. At that site, apparel can be purchased to support the organization.

People are also encouraged to wear blue or purple on March 18 to bring awareness to Trisomy 18.

Lee and I are so very grateful for the amount of support the community continues to show,” Sierra said.