The second annual Valentine Ball to benefit the Harvest Food and Outreach Center was billed as the “Hottest Gala of the year” and it did not miss the mark. Not only were the guests dressed in their most beautiful finery last Saturday, but romance was definitely in the air.
As Ed and Susan Smith looked over the numerous auction items, they stopped to peruse the Parisian vacation package. When asked if he was going to bid on it, he answered yes, since it was one of Susan’s favorite places to visit. “When you have a wife like this you have to be nice to her,” said Ed, beaming at Susan.
The hard-working committee had worked diligently to fill the room with close to 100 spectacular packages and individual auction items. Some were silent and others, such as the Parisian package Smith was interested in, elicited spirited bidding by auctioneer Wesley Davis during the live auction.
“Our committee, including co-chairs Pam Harmon, Amy Patterson and Barbara Lowry helped get them together and we all donated personal items as well,” said Linda Rusciano, who organized the donations. “Harvest Food Outreach is about helping people better their lives. It is not just about feeding people, it is about finding a better path forward,” she said, adding that working on the event had been a labor of love.
Guests at the hugely successful, sold-out gala mingled in the elegant Oak Harbor Club’s entryway and dining room, which had been stunningly transformed by The Event Firm International into a lush, romantic setting. After first enjoying champagne, cocktails and glam shots by a professional photographer, attendees enjoyed dinner and dancing to music by Remix and singer Laura Vivas of The Voice.
Executive director Annabel Robertson explained that Austin Hunt founded Harvest for the sole purpose of helping the working poor. She is so committed to the program that after initially volunteering there as a teacher she quit her career as an attorney to work for the organization.
“I closed my office and it has changed my life,” said Robertson.
Harvest’s new HOPE program, Harvest Outreach Preparation for Employment, is the innovative approach to helping clients transition off welfare through classroom workshops and on-the job skills training, preparing them for job opportunities customized for the community. “It’s our pinnacle program,” said Robertson. “It combines job training, education and crises care.”
“Oak Harbor has been a wonderful venue and our co-chairs have really brought us out into the spotlight,” said Hunt. “Every $1,000 we make tonight helps lift up 64 families into economic self-sufficiency. These ladies recognized what needed to be done to raise funds for a program which provides basic needs through the empowerment of our clients. It is not charity, it is an investment.”
“We just focused on our mission,” said Pam Harmon, noting that the passion of the community, board members and committees have all contributed to the success of the organization. “We are all a Harvest family.”