RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - About 300 diners took multitasking to a new level as they simultaneously ate through 1,100 pounds of crab and supported a good cause.

The occasion was the 11th Annual Crab Feed, co-hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Rancho Murieta and the Knights of Columbus, held at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church on Feb. 1.

The crab feed serves as the Kiwanis Club’s primary fundraiser, with all proceeds reinvested into the community to support local youth and seniors. This year, the club sold 296 tickets in just seven hours and boosted its efforts with cash sponsorships, a raffle, a silent auction, and a dessert auction, raising a total of $38,000.

Kiwanian Jeanette Edwards managed the ticket sales this year. “How quickly we sold out tells us the community looks forward to our crab feed and how much they enjoy the evening. The community is very supportive when it comes to our fundraising events.”

The Knights of Columbus also operated a no-host bar to raise funds for the Special Olympics of Northern California. 

Although the amount raised this year wasn’t available by press time, they raised $1,800 last year.

Past presidents Dia Utterback and Bonnie Shewchuk, known as the “Dynamic Duo,” co-chaired the crab feed organizing committee and delivered an impressive event. Together, they secured 32 cash sponsors, 70 raffle items, and nearly two dozen silent auction and dessert auction offerings. In the final week before the event, Shewchuk assembled all the raffle prizes into eye-catching baskets.

This year, Utterback brought in a new caterer for the event: the Lions Club of Elk Grove. In addition to cooking the crab, the team prepared 110 pounds of shrimp and a seemingly endless supply of pasta. “They did a fantastic job,” said Edwards. “It was great working with them.”

Lions Club member Jack Edwards said they also had a great time participating in the event. He noted that the Lions frequently collaborate with other service clubs “to continue to make our community a better place to raise our families.”

Twenty-two Key Club members from Sheldon and Pleasant Grove high schools and the Rancho Murieta chapter served food at the event. The tips they earned will support their community initiatives. Kiwanians Patti Maffei and Cookie Whalen supervised the hardworking teen volunteers. Key Club is a Kiwanis service club for high school students.

The event’s success was made possible by the efforts of many Kiwanians and several dedicated community organizers. Scout Troop 633 also pitched in, assisting with the cleanup the following day.

Kiwanis Club President Bill Kenney expressed his gratitude to everyone who attended, emphasizing the event’s importance as the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year. “Without you guys here tonight, we couldn’t do what we do in the community, things like the dictionary project, Kids Fishing Day, the July 4 breakfast, and the Easter Egg Hunt.”

Kenney announced that this year’s fishing day will be dedicated in memory of the late Joe Mazzoni, who initiated that event and organized the first four crab feeds.

Kenney also encouraged the crowd to show their support for the event’s 32 sponsors. “Please take a second to stare up at the wall. These are all of our sponsors,” he said. “Without them, we would not be able to hold this event. They are also our friends and neighbors.”

This year’s Diamond Sponsor was Rancho Murieta Homes and Land (Karen Hoberg). The Gold Sponsors were the Firecode Safety Equipment, Bobo Construction, Town and Country Real Estate, and D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments, which will be constructing a solar facility on Scott Road.