Laura Cheek is dedicated to helping ensure Solid Rock Youth Ministries continues to serve other families like the nonprofit helped her son.

That's why Cheek volunteers to chair the Quarryville-based group's largest fundraiser.

"It started actually with my son (John)," Cheek said. "He joined Solid Rock when he was in middle school, and I just loved how much they invested in our community and the things that my son was coming home being instilled by the Word of God and having others in the community outside of our church that were believers coming alongside him and helping him be the young man that he is."

Solid Rock's banquet will be held Thursday, Oct. 23, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at The Barn of Nottingham, 101 Ponds Edge Drive, Nottingham. Guests can purchase individual tickets or sponsor a table of eight. Register by Thursday, Oct. 9. Go to http://www.solidrockquarryville.com to buy tickets.

"One of the things that of the things that I love about our fundraising events, it feels like a big family reunion in the sense of everyone coming out and supporting the ministry," executive director Raeanne Nixon said. "It's a blessing for Solid Rock that all of the funds given will go towards our operational budget. All of our programs are free at Solid Rock, so this helps keeps that free for the families. This past school year and summer, we have served over 400 students with the Gospel. Things like this help us to continue to do that."

The buffet-style food catered by Dolce Vita will consist of fruit and veggie trays for appetizers, while the main course will include rolls with butter, spring mix salad, penne al sol, herb-crusted pork loin, meatballs in a honey glaze, green beans, and Parmesan potatoes. There will be gluten-free offerings for those who request it when purchasing tickets. There will be pumpkin, vanilla, and red velvet cupcakes for dessert.

Nixon noted that following the appetizers, there will be time for worship prior to dinner. Dr. Roger C. S. Erdvig will then be the guest speaker. "After that, Solid Rock will share things like who is Solid Rock and why should I support Solid Rock?" Nixon said. "Then we'll have an interview with Roger, and then after that, we will have a time for people to give towards the ministry."

Erdvig, who resides in Lincoln University, is the director of the Center for Biblical Worldview Formation at Summit Ministries, and he has served as a pastor, university professor, and CEO of three educational institutions. "With nearly two decades in educational leadership and over a decade of homeschooling, he deeply understands how a biblical worldview forms in children and young adults," according to the bio provided by Solid Rock. "Roger is the author of the watershed book 'Beyond Biblical Integration,' which has been studied by tens of thousands of school and home educators around the globe."

The theme of the banquet is "Blessed Are the Shalom-makers."

Solid Rock Youth Ministries serves students in the Solanco area during the school year and over the summer by providing programs, activities, and family events.

Reynolds and Shivery Funeral Home is the event sponsor. "We would like to thank Reynolds and Shivery Funeral Home and all of our other sponsors for their partnership," Nixon said.

Cheek said, "Solid Rock's influence in my own life gave me a desire to want to give back and be a part of Solid Rock because, and as Dr. Erdvig had said, as believers, we want to be peacemakers, and we want to create in our community a wholeness that is giving back to the world and the people in it, which I see Solid Rock doing. And I wanted to be a part of that."