For the second year, people can dine out on pasta and help homeless animals while they’re waiting for adoption, Ruby Waderich said.

Waderich, information officer for Solano County Friends of Animals, said the group will have its Pasta for Paws and Purrs event — “the biggest fundraiser of our year” — next month at Benicia’s Clock Tower.

Other events on the group’s calendar are smaller, more grassroots types, she said, such as the “Give a Buck” request of a dollar from the public, monthly bake sales, yard sales and similar efforts.

Organized this year by Sue Watson and Chris Reed, the pasta feed has been the work of multiple volunteers who Waderich said have been seeking items and merchandise for drawings and both silent and live auctions, as well as doing all the side work needed to make the pasta dinner possible.

“The list goes on and on, to say nothing of the actual work on the night of the event,” Waderich said. “We have the best volunteers — each is an avid animal lover!”

The Rellik Tavern is providing the food, which will be a choice of pastas and sauces, salad, bread and dessert. Beverages — soft drinks, beer and wine — can be purchased.

The Rellik became involved last year, partner Tom Hamilton said, and stepped up when other restaurants were unable to help.

Money raised during the pasta feed will help Solano County Friends of Animals underwrite its multiple programs, which includes low-cost spaying and neutering.

The organization also has programs for trapping, neutering and releasing feral domestic animals, fostering and adoption of prospective pets, coverage of medical expenses for the animals in its care, and providing information to the public, Waderich said.

“And many, many other services,” she added.

Friends of Animals was started 29 years ago by Watson and Janette Lattin, Waderich said. From the beginning, its focus has been on spaying and neutering pets so animals don’t breed and produce puppies and kittens that have no homes.

“Our motto is ‘No More Homeless Pets,’” Waderich said.

A no-kill registered nonprofit organization, Friends of Animals also provides education and public help for those seeking low-cost spaying and neutering, among its multiple other services.

However, “We have no facility and no paid staff,” Waderich said. “Every dollar that is raised goes directly to helping the animals.”

She said Friends of Animals has been fortunate that PetFood Express in Benicia has offered it a place to operate a cat adoption center.

The center “has enabled us to adopt hundreds of cats, kittens and dogs to forever homes in just the last year,” Waderich said.

“We have saved the lives of thousands of animals over the years and adopted them into wonderful forever homes.

“We are always looking for foster homes, volunteers to work at the cat center, grant writers, TNR (trap and release) help, simple computer work, picking up messages and lots more,” she said. “Some jobs can be done from home in your jammies.”

For this year’s pasta feed, the organization has received some quality auction items for both the silent and live auctions, Waderich said.

“We hope to reach $10,000 with this fundraiser,” she said.

This year, Danny Lewis will be the auctioneer of the live version.

“One of the auction items is a family pack for Disneyland valued at over $600,” Waderich said.

Other items in the auction are a getaway to the Atlantis in Reno, Nev., various museum tours, Pier 39 gift certificates, and donations from Huckleberry’s, Olive Garden, Costco, See’s Candy, Mickee’s Pet Grooming, Ace Hardware and other area companies.

Individuals and companies that want to contribute items or services for the drawings or auctions may email SFOAhelpme@gmail.com or visit the organization’s Facebook page.

The person at the pasta dinner who is holding the lucky ticket for the drawing will go home with a 50-inch Emerson flat-screen television, Waderich said.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger. They can be bought online through the Solano County Friends of Animals (SCFOA) Facebook page or by emailing SCFOAhelpme@gmail.com.

They also will be available at the organization’s adoption sites, PetFood Express in the Southampton Shopping Center, 838 Southampton Road, and Petco, 161 Plaza Drive in Gateway Plaza, Vallejo, during the adoption hours of noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 3 p.m. Sundays.

Drawing tickets will be sold at the dinner.

Pasta for Paws and Purrs will take place April 18 at the Benicia Clock Tower, 1189 Washington St. Doors open at 6 p.m.