Spaghetti dinner fundraiser aims to help injured teen

A devastating car accident on Aug. 26 has left 17-year-old Ashlee Reed on the long road to recovery, but the community is stepping up to help her along, including her employers at Ken’s Bayside Pizza & Subs.

Beverly Howard, Adrienne Tomlinson and owner Joanne Parcells have organized a spaghetti dinner to benefit Reed, on Saturday, Sept. 29, from 4 to 9 p.m. at Roxana Fire Hall.

“All of us in here, we love her so much,” Parcells said. “We hated seeing this happen — really, really terrible accident — just to show her [and] her family support,” Parsell said. “They only have so much insurance that they were working with, so we’re going to try to ease that financial burden a little bit.”

Reed’s injuries included a broken neck, a femur broken in two places, a broken sternum, cracked ribs and other minor injuries. She was still homebound this week after leaving Christiana Hospital, where she was treated after the accident. She is to attend Indian River High School for her senior year.

“She has to wear neck brace for two months. Then, after that, she should have full mobility, and she got really lucky with that,” Parcells said. “We’re just trying to keep her spirits up, let her know that she has this support.”

This was only Reed’s first summer at Ken’s, but she made an impression on the gang there. All summer, the employees talked about “PMA,” or “positive mental attitude,” which is an important focus now, of all times.

“She is always here on time, always willing to work extra. Even if it was super-busy and she was ready to get off work, she would still stay and help me out,” said Parcells. “She’s just an all-around really good kid.”

Tickets for the fundraiser can be purchased at the door for $15. Dinner includes spaghetti, meatballs, bread and salad. Everything has been donated, so 100 percent of proceeds go straight to Reed.

The evening also includes a bake sale, auction and 50/50 drawing.

“Anything we can do to raise money that night, we’re going to do,” Parcells said.

The ladies at Ken’s Bayside are organizing dinner, and now they’re also asking the community to join in. Donations are needed for the bake sale and auction (gifts, gift certificates or services). Contributions are tax-deductible. People can also help by selling tickets. According to the “Ashlee Reed Benefit Fund” public Facebook page, bake sale items that can be sold for $1 to $5 are being requested.

To make a direct donation, visit any branch of PNC Bank, which is managing the “Ashlee J. Reed Fund.” To volunteer or contribute fundraiser items, email ashleereedbenefit@gmail.com.

For more information, call Beverly Howard, Joanne Parcells or Adrienne Tomlinson at Ken’s Bayside Pizza & Subs at (302) 436-0213.