LIVERMORE FALLS — The community is rallying around Elaine Smith and her husband, Kenney Smith, as she battles an aggressive form of cancer.

Smith, a longtime volunteer and director at Treat Memorial Library in Livermore Falls, recently was diagnosed with kidney cancer. She grew up in the Farmington area. The couple has helped others in times of need.

Friends and family are organizing a benefit supper and dance to help with medical expenses and associated costs. The family has no insurance.

Roni Pillsbury of Livermore Falls said it started when she posted a little note on her Facebook page asking how she could go about organizing a fundraiser for the Smiths. Within an hour, dozens of people had responded and offered to help, she said. Pillsbury, Carol Brown of Livermore Falls and Kenney Smith’s sister Carol Pauley are organizing the benefit spaghetti supper with help from others.

Pillsbury said they plan to have a spaghetti dinner from 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 21 at the AMVETS Hall on Route 4 in Jay.

Admission is by donation.

People have volunteered to donate items but there is still more that is needed, Pillsbury said. They need paper plates and napkins and more desserts. They are also in need of spaghetti. They plan to cook 100 pounds. They expect more than 400 people to attend.

Don Castonguay, Norm Brown and Scott Mills will be in the kitchen cooking.

“The community has been overwhelmingly supportive,” Pillsbury said.

Raffle items are also needed. They have several already but could use more, she said.

For more information, call Pillsbury at 897-5796 or Carol Brown at 897-2297.

There will be a dance from 8 p.m. to midnight after the supper at the AMVETS Hall. The band Crash Road will perform. Tickets are $10 per person and must be purchased before the dance, Pillsbury said.

Tickets are available at Riverside Kwik Stop on Riley Road in Jay, Carol Brown, Treat Memorial Library on Main Street in Livermore Falls and the AMVETS Hall.

dperry@sunjournal.com