01/21/2026
Join us on Sunday, February 1st at the Akron Fire Hall for our Annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser, featuring Kay "Mac" McEllhenney's "secret sauce" recipe🍝🌟
Akron Lions Spaghetti Dinner To Include “Secret Sauce” Honor
Shopping News Photo by Donald Reese
What’s the secret sauce to community service? As the Akron Lions Club prepares for its annual Spaghetti Dinner on Sunday, February 1, they want to honor Kay “Mac” McEllhenney, the man behind the club’s secret spaghetti sauce. This year’s event will be held at the Akron Fire Company from 11:00 a.m. until sold out, with meals available for dine-in or takeout.
Shown in the photo preparing for the dinner, from left to right, are Brenda Fetter, Valerie and Kyle Wagner, Don Good and Mike Morris.
One of the highlights of each year’s spaghetti dinner is the “secret sauce” recipe that Mac McEllhenney shared with the club in 1993, when they decided to use extra beef from the toasted cheeseburger stand to hold a winter fundraiser. Proceeds from the event go back into the community.
Incoming Club President, David Austin, thought that 2026 would be a great time to honor Mac McEllhenney, who served the Akron Lions Club, joining in 1967, until his death in August 2025. Mac was a builder by trade, and much of his impact on the club comes through efforts he spearheaded to build items on behalf of the Lions.
The Club built Pavilion #1 in Loyd Roland Park in 1970. When Mac learned that the Akron Boy Scout Troop didn’t have a meeting place, he led the volunteer group that built the lodge in 1983. In addition to serving as the meeting space for the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, Akron Borough rents the facility to groups and families for events. In 1995, the Lions built the restrooms at Loyd Roland Park, and again Mac led the charge. In 1998, the Lions received a request for a band shell, and Mac suggested that the Lions build it with an attached pavilion, kitchen and meeting room for the Lions Club. The band shell served as stage for Akron Day in the Park, a Lion’s Club tradition that endures today.
In 2004, a pavilion was needed for the Broad Street Park, and as you can imagine, Mac led the crew from the Lions Club that built that as well. Mac also spearheaded the effort to build the current trailer that the club uses each year for the Ephrata Fair. The current trailer was built in 2001, and in 2023, even when Mac was no longer able to do the work himself, he coordinated the full refurbishing of the trailer with new siding. After this was completed, Mac reported to the club that the “younger” members stepped up to do the work, and that the club “was in good hands for the future.” Resounding praise from a man who faithfully served the club and his community.
Mac’s service has been recognized formally by the club. He is noted as Lion of the Year on three different occasions, and was awarded the Melvin Jones award by the International Lions. He enthusiastically brought many new members into the club throughout his many years of service.
So, as the Lions prepare your secret sauce, they honor the man who knew the secret sauce to community service – showing up ready to share good ideas and put them into action to see them to completion. Thank you Kay “Mac” McEllhenney for your service to the Akron Lions Club and to the community!
