PINE CITY, N.Y. (WENY) -- A spaghetti dinner for first responders was held in Pine City on Saturday and -- it was all hosted by an 11-year-old boy. Dakota Rinker's Give Back Project started when he was five years old and gave goody bags to police officers but now, it is so much more.
It all began around six years ago when Dakota Rinker asked his mom if police officers liked the snack HoHos. With some help, Dakota decided to put goody bags together for police officers every year using his birthday money. This year, however, Dakota wanted to do something different and make an even bigger show of appreciation with a free spaghetti dinner for first responders.
"So basically I just decided out of the blue just to come up with a spaghetti dinner," said Dakota Rinker. "I've basically just been doing this all off of what I believed was right. Whether it be the police officers get ho-hos, or the firemen get crackers, or the EMTs just get hand sanitizer. So it's basically been every little thing."
Dakota's spaghetti dinner was held at the Golden Glow Volunteer Fire Company in Pine City.
First responders with their IDs were able to enjoy a free meal that consisted of spaghetti and meatballs, bread, salad, and a cupcake. The dinner was open to the general public who could buy a meal for $8 each.
To help him serve guests and check on tables, Dakota recruited some friends from his soccer team. All of the children volunteered their weekend time to do so.
"We are still appreciated from, not only the older generation, but now the younger generation is starting to appreciate what sacrifices between the veterans of the military, the sacrifices of the police officers, the firefighters, all the first responders around," said Jason Robertshaw, a veteran, and Dakota's soccer coach.
Melissa Rinker, Dakota's mother, credited her son with planning the event all by himself. Even saying he had a notebook for the event that he had been using for over a year.
Rinker also says throughout the years, her son has helped to teach others about the service from first responders, how to show appreciation, and more.
"Well, let's start too with what was Dakota teaching me because he's amazing," said Rinker. "You know, what I see is a maturity growth in him and an ability to organize and still be an 11-year-old. You know he can come off as a politician expert or like an adult-like person, but he's still very much 11. This is just something that's very close to his heart."
Dakota says all of the money raised from today's public dinner sales will go right back into planning next year's Give Back Project for first responders.
Up-to-date information on Dakota's Give Back Project, his efforts to show appreciation to first responders, and ways that people may be able to contribute can be found on Dakota’s “Thank You Officer You’re Wonderful” Project Facebook page.