Singing, dancing and spaghetti for special-needs kids

Each year the Bellmore Knights of Columbus holds a spaghetti lunch complete with singing, dancing and, of course, dessert for local special-needs children.

Event Co-Chairman Danny Robinson, who has organized the annual feast for 20 years, said that 200 kids and 100 volunteers turned out for the event recently to enjoy pasta made by the Knights themselves, rolls donated by Lakewood Bakery in Farmingdale and the sounds of Robinson on the accordion.

"It's great to see all these kids smiling and dancing and eating the food," Robinson said. "You see them with smiles from ear-to-ear -- even with this guy playing the accordion!"

Robinson co-chaired the event with Bellmore Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Jim Mikowski. The knights welcomed kids from the Association for Children with Down Syndrome, AHRC and the Center for Developmental Disabilities.

"Every year you go, 'Wow, it was really good last year,'" Robinson said, "and you say the same thing every year."

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