Thanks to Helping Our West Side, locals can get into the 1950s groove to help children and teenagers.

The nonprofit, founded in 1993 to help local youth, is hosting a night it calls "Grease Comes to Patterson", an April 17 dinner-dance that invites West Siders to put on their leather jackets and poodle skirts for food and fun.

It's all for a good cause, of course.

Formerly known as Patte-Kake, a chapter of the Children's Home Society, H.O.W. zeroes in on the needs of children, and "Grease Comes to Patterson" is no exception.

"It's an inspiring group of women who have stuck together for decades to help our West Side," H.O.W. member Karen Willard said. "It's a group that focuses on helping children."

H.O.W. has sponsored numerous charitable efforts in the community, including a $6,000 donation for the T.W. Patterson Sports Park playground structure; giving socks and blankets to children around Christmastime; buying books for the library in Newman; and helping families that have children with serious illnesses pay for their expenses.

H.O.W. has also donated money to Every Student Succeeding and Kids Helping Kids through the Patterson Unified School District, has bought Christmas gifts for children annually, and each year gives $500 scholarships to Patterson and Del Puerto high school students in partnership with Patterson Recognizing Individuals Determined to Excel.

Barbara McCleskey, the nonprofit's president, has been a member for 27 years, stretching back to the group's Patte-Kake days. She explained that fulfilling the clubís mission continues to make an impact on the West Side.

"It gives me a great feeling inside to see the results of what our funds have done for children," McCleskey said.

• Irrigator reporter Maddy Houk contributed to this story.

At a glance

• WHAT: Helping Our Westside's "Grease Comes to Patterson" dinner-dance

• WHEN: No-host cocktails at 6 p.m. April 17, buffet dinner at 7, dancing from 8 to midnight

• WHERE: Bonaventure Hall, 505 M St.

• DETAILS: Attendees are invited to dress as a favorite ìGreaseî character to enter the costume contest, with music by DJ Bear

• TICKETS: $20 per person at My Sisterís Closet, 40 N. Salado Ave.; Hammon Senior Center, 1033 W. Las Palmas Ave.; City Hall, 1 Plaza; or from any H.O.W. member.

• INFO: Sonia Musson 606-4115l; or Barbara McCleskey, 483-1808

Club officers

• President: Barbara McCleskey

• Vice president: Stephanie Days

• Secretary: Cyndy Gomes

• Treasurer: Sonia Musson

• Publicity: Karen Willard