PROCTORVILLE — Some call them spring onions, ramsons, wild leeks, wood leeks, wild garlic or even allium tricoccum, but to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6878 in Proctorville, they’re ramps.

The early spring vegetable has been the staple of the VFW’s annual fundraising dinner as long as anyone can remember. On Saturday Post 6878 commander Warren Napier said he expected nearly 250 people to partake in the dinner.

“We’re just getting started,” he said. “Our goal is to serve 250 people today.”

People steadily arrived as a band played music; 45 minutes after the event began 51 people had already paid the $8 for a meal.

“Everybody enjoys it,” Doris Boster said. “This event is part of this community.”

Napier said the 200 pounds of ramps gathered on Thursday would be gone by the end of the dinner.

Money raised at the dinner goes toward the posts many causes, such as helping homeless veterans, widows of veterans and disabled veterans.

“We do what we can to give them everything they need,” Napier said. “If we can something ourselves, like rebuild a wheelchair ramp, then we will.”

To find out more information about joining the VFW contact Post 6878 at 740-886-6219.