AUBURN - Today is Thanksgiving, but that doesn't mean there wasn't time and room for a little feast the day before.

On Wednesday evening, people strolled in the meeting room adjacent to SS. Peter and John Episcopal Church for a feast of bread and pasta as the church's youth group hosted its monthly spaghetti dinner.

Lisa Semenza, youth group leader, said the group hosts these dinners on the fourth Wednesday of every month and it just happens to occasionally fall on Thanksgiving eve, which has worked out to the group's advantage.

“You never can tell,” Semenza said. “Sometimes this is the biggest one of these we have all year. A lot of people will come out either because they don't want to cook tonight or they have friends and family in town and they want to go out and get something to eat instead of cook.”

And dinner guests were treated to something special.

Semenza said each month, the group, along with the help of Jeff Sawyer, a chef at Daut's, who does much of the cooking, strive to make a meal that everyone can enjoy and also have a few special options.

On Wednesday, along with red sauce and meatballs, guests could choose from alfredo as well as spinach lasagna.

“We try to pick a theme every month,” Semenza said. “We always have marinara and meatballs, but we also try to have something special every month to give people something to choose from.”

Along with the main course, patrons could make their own salad, as well as choose from a wide variety of desserts, suited to the holiday, with pumpkin pie and a cake decorated like a turkey.

The variety drew many to the meal. Dave DeCaro, of Auburn, said he and his family are regulars, attending every month since summer.

With their turkey ready for Thursday and the many delicious leftovers ahead, DeCaro said pasta was something different.

“It is a great deal,” DeCaro said. “And you get a lot of food. I know we're going to be eating turkey for the next week, so this is a nice change of pace and everything is really good and you always leave here stuffed.”

Kevin Rogers, an Auburn native, who is currently attending SUNY Fredonia, made it a point to get to the dinner.

Rogers said that growing up, he was part of the youth group that hosted the meals.

Now being a patron, Rogers gets to appreciate it from a new perspective.

“It is a little more fun now,” Rogers said. “The food is good and it is nice to be back and see all the people. I planned on making it here while I was home for the holiday. I really like being here and the whole atmosphere and everything.”

But the dinners are about more than food.

They are important fundraisers that help the youth group participate in summer work camps through the organization Group Work Camps Foundation.

Semenza said this organization takes youth groups all over the country to help with home projects such as rebuilding stairs and wheelchair-accessible ramps.

This summer, SS. Peter and John will be sending a group to Connecticut.

“This is our biggest fundraiser for that,” Semenza said. “We've been doing these every month, except December because of Christmas, for about five years now. They are a big part of helping us raise funds to be able to take part in the work camps over the summer.”