The 100 Club of San Antonio says it raised over $100,000 in its annual spaghetti and meat ball dinner over the weekend, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The 100 Club raises money year round for several programs to benefit the families of First Responders, including police officers, firefighters, and EMS techs who are killed in the line of duty.
Among their programs include helping families with immediate expenses, and helping pay for college educations for the officers' kids.
100 Club President Richard Miller says some 7,000 people showed up at the Christopher Columbus Italian Society banquet hall downtown, and several thousand more donated in a new 'drive through lane' which allowed them to pick up packages of spicy meat balls.
"Special thanks to the hundreds of volunteers, corporate sponsors and civic groups who come together to make sure that families of fallen First Responders are taken care of on behalf of a grateful community," Miller said.
The 100 Club has expanded its efforts in recent years, including providing 'de-escalation training' for law officers, to help them not become casualties in the line of duty.