They say it takes a village to raise a child. Sometimes, it takes a village to support one.

Or several villages, as a benefit dinner this Saturday at the Herman Volunteer Fire Company hall has shown.

The spaghetti dinner follows a plasma and blood drive held for Cheyenne Widenhofer, a 13-year-old Ford City resident who developed vasculitis in April.

Vasculitis is the inflammation of blood vessels, according to the Mayo Clinic, that results in restricted blood flow and organ damage.

Ultimately, Cheyenne will need a kidney transplant.

“She has always been very healthy,” said Janelle Shaffer, Cheyenne's mother and a Butler County native. “Very active.”

“She was never sick,” said Danielle Frankenstein, Cheyenne's cousin.

Cheyenne first began experiencing symptoms in April, according to Shaffer. Because of the pandemic, her first medical opinion was given via a telehealth visit.

Her family was told to take her to Armstrong Center for Medicine and Health. From there, she was admitted to UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. She spent over a month in the hospital.

Shaffer said while Cheyenne is now doing better, she still has dialysis three times a week. “Both kidneys are functioning at 10 percent,” Frankenstein, a co-planner for Saturday's benefit, said. “She needs a donor ... This is making people aware.”

As Shaffer only has one kidney, some of Cheyenne's other relatives are getting tested. This includes Cheyenne's father, Tim Widenhofer.

Frankenstein said aside from gathering blood donations, she hopes the dinner helps Cheyenne find a potential kidney match.

“The more possibilities, the better,” Frankenstein said.

Saturday's event was planned mostly by family, according to Frankenstein. But getting things ready for the basket raffle depended on many local businesses.

“We got a lot of baskets,” Frankenstein said. “A lot of people (are) donating.”

Shaffer and Frankenstein said handling Cheyenne's diagnosis has been especially difficult during the pandemic. While in the hospital, Cheyenne was allowed visits only from her immediate family.

Frankenstein said even now, Cheyenne is immunocompromised. She has to be very careful to avoid catching COVID-19.

“Everybody wants to see her,” Frankenstein said. “But you can't really be around her.”

“Butler and Armstrong (residents) both had me in tears many times,” Shaffer said. “Complete strangers have done so much for her.”

Shaffer hopes Cheyenne's story will inspire others to donate blood products or organs, if they can. It's certainly had that effect on Shaffer.

She said until she saw the transfusions Cheyenne needed, Shaffer didn't fully recognize the importance of having a supply of healthy blood and blood products at hand.

“Seeing that ... that was a big wake-up call,” Shaffer said. “I will always be a blood donor from now on.”

The Vitalant blood and plasma drive is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the fire hall at 789 Herman Road in Butler. Takeout spaghetti dinners will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for $10 a meal.

“It's all to go,” Frankenstein said. “So (people) can just stop in.”

Visitors are asked to wear masks. Social distancing will be in effect. Pamphlets about organ donation will be available for those interested in seeing if they're a match.

Shaffer said she's grateful for those who have supported her and Cheyenne the past few months.

“I just appreciate everything,” Shaffer said. “During the pandemic, it's been very hard.”