If you wonder what’s cooking in the effort to help ailing firefighter Willie West, organizers hope you will be.

A spaghetti feed, hosted by the firefighters of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District and scheduled for March 24 at Veterans Hall, 757 First St. in Brentwood, will benefit West, an ECCFPD firefighter battling prostate cancer since November. The event runs from noon to 2 p.m. and 4 to 10 p.m.

The event features live music and raffles, a jump house and face painting for the kids, and a silent auction of sports memorabilia.

Tickets ($20) are now on sale at the ECCFPD office, 134 Oak St. in Brentwood. Tickets include one meal, one beverage and a raffle ticket.

For more information, call Patricia Hubbard at 925-240-2136.

Those looking to support West can also participate in ECCFPD Director Bob Kenny’s fundraiser raffle, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 29 at the San Joaquin Yacht Club, 550 Riverview Place in Bethel Island. Kenny, known for masquerading as Santa Claus during the holidays, has pledged to shave his Santa beard for charity. The grand prizewinner gets to decide where, when and who will shave Kenny’s beard. Tickets are $5. For more information, call Kenny at 925-684-9283.

In a recent interview with the Press, ECCFPD Fire Chief Hugh Henderson said West, who has been with the district since 2002, has the support of his extended family in the firefighting community.

“Firefighters are a family, and when a member of your family is ill, you want to do whatever you can to offer support. The guys are always checking in with him trying to keep his spirits up. They go over to visit and call him. He’s a great person and a great employee. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”

Family friend Clyde Allen said West, an Antioch resident who works at the Knightsen station, maintains a positive attitude during his battle with cancer and is showing improvement following three rounds of chemotherapy.