On Friday, November 3rd, Scarsdale High School held its annual Community Dinner from 5:30 to 7:30 PM in the SHS cafeteria. The event brought together students, families, and faculty for an evening of food, fun, and fundraising. This year’s dinner raised over $6000 for My Sisters’ Place, a local organization that supports survivors of domestic violence and their families. Attendees enjoyed a wide selection of food donated by local restaurants including Giannoni’s, Pizzarelli’s, and Jade Spoon. Tickets cost $25 and all proceeds went to charity. 

“It was great seeing members from the community across all ages,” Student Government President Ravi Vora ’26 reflected. “It began slowly, but as the night progressed, the turnout improved drastically.” 

Planning for this event began about a month in advance as each class government prepared their activities and stations. According to Vora, the familiarity of organizing the dinner each year helps to make the process smoother and allows student leaders and class government members to focus on creativity and collaboration.

This year, to keep guests engaged throughout the evening, each grade hosted a different activity to offer a wide range of entertainment options. The sophomore class government, led by Class President Samuel Cascade ’28 and advised by SHS Social Studies Teacher Carlos Bedoya, organized a photo booth equipped with cameras and colorful props. “The photo booth was passed down to us,” Cascade explained. “Since it was a hit before, we wanted to continue the tradition while adding our own props.” The booth was popular with guests of all ages, from families with young children to teachers joining in for fun pictures. “People of all ages enjoyed taking photos together,” Cascade observed. “It was really fun seeing kids, parents, and teachers getting together.”

The senior class’s karaoke station drew a large crowd, as students and families gathered to sing along and cheer for their friends, classmates, and teachers. “My favorite part of the event is when the karaoke area becomes energetic and all the kids want to participate,” Vora said. “That’s when the night really comes alive.”

For Bedoya, the annual community dinner represents an opportunity to both celebrate and give back locally. “We always reach out to local restaurants in the community,” he said. “It’s about keeping it local in Scarsdale and Westchester, and making sure the money raised goes to a good cause.” 

Vora hopes that this event continues to grow in the coming years. “Since we’ve lost the carnival, we need at least one event the community can rally around and be excited about,” he said. “Hopefully, we can attract even more attendees next time.” 

With delicious food, a strong turnout, and a shared purpose, this year’s community dinner once again demonstrated the importance of coming together as a community, both to connect and to give back.