STEELVILLE — Once again, the community of Steelville worked together for a good cause.

Dinner on the Deck is a monthly fundraiser at The Main Deck in Steelville. Most dinner events sell out in just a matter of days with a ticket price of $40 per person, and $1,600 to $2,000 can be raised in a single night.

The Main Deck patio bar, owned by Marilyn and John Lakaner, can seat 40 to 50 guests for the dinner events. It’s up to each sponsor to choose a project or they may simply donate to a non-profit in the area. Next, the sponsor and the Lakaners communicate to choose a calendar date between May and November. Then the sponsor meets with friends and family to plan the meal and see what they can put together for a successful fundraiser.

October’s dinner was sponsored by Steelville Arts Council to raise funds for Emerald Pitts’ Steelville High School art classroom. Miles Yeary, president on the board of STARCO has joined in the cause by voting to match the amount raised at the dinner; bringing the total money raised to $3,200 for the SHS art department.

Pitts has brightened up the art department with new and exciting goals for the 2025-26 school year.

“The money raised is really helping to turn a new page in the art department at SHS by giving me much more flexibility with what’s possible in the classroom and I am extremely grateful for STARCO’s and the community’s support,” said Pitts. She continues, “The funds will be used to uplift my classroom in a variety of ways. I’ll be replacing some tools and materials that are ready to be laid to rest, as well as expanding our inventory of available resources at large. For example, I’ll be purchasing some weaving equipment to support the new incorporation of textile production in my curriculum. I’m planning to get some sampler looms, a bobbin winder, and a good selection of weaving and dye accessories. I also plan to get some really nice glazes for ceramics projects and other tools to improve the clay studio.”

Raising funds through donations for a good cause is a worthy undertaking and, Dinner on the Deck events raise something even more important — awareness of the many ways the community can get involved to make Steelville a better place to learn and live. The final dinner event for 2025 will be on Saturday, Nov. 1 from 2-4 p.m. to raise funds for the Trail of Tears Memorial Monument in Steelville City Park. 

Dinner themes are being planned for 2026.