St. Leo's Hosting Semi-Annual Ravioli Dinner Sunday

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Meatballs, spaghetti and ravioli --- and it's all homemade.

Ron Matz reports the great food is just one part of Sunday's big fundraiser in Little Italy.

They have been cooking in the kitchen at St. Leo's where 4,000 meatballs and thousands of ravioli were prepared for Sunday's big dinner. All homemade and raising money for the church.

"It's a sit down dinner in the school hall," said Sue Corasaniti, volunteer coordinator. "We have carryout in the church hall."

They do it twice a year -- going back more than 60 years -- when dozens of volunteers make it happen.

This food speaks volumes.

"It's almost like the food is a language," said Father Bernie Carman, of St. Leo's Church. "It's a communication of community and caring and of being together."

"Somebody told me a church is a church with a steeple, but what makes the church is all the people -- and that's what it's all about,' said Maria Vaccaro, of Vaccaro's Italian Pastries. "All the people in the community coming together and having a beautiful dinner; it's really a beautiful thing."

They've got pizzelles and Italian cookies, too. Cooking for a cause, dinner at St. Leo's is on Baltimore's bucket list.

"All the churches are having problems financially, especially the inner city churches," Corasanti said. "so this really helps balance the budget."

The dinner Sunday is from noon until 6 p.m. It's $12 for adults and $6 for children.