Excitement has been building as the 4th Annual Food for Families Fundraiser expands this year, benefiting the Twin Valley Food Pantry.
“It’s getting bigger and better each year! Starting in 2011 after a conversation with a neighbor who inspired me to volunteer to raise money for the pantry, we are approaching our fourth year. I feel so fortunate seeing how it has grown and how lucky I am to be able to give back and inspire others,” said Deborah Harry, Elverson resident and Twin Valley Food Pantry event creator and organizer. “My motto is Ask and Get.”
The benefit event will be held at Conestoga Mennonite Church, 2779 Main St., Morgantown, on Feb. 6, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. and Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“After last year’s great success with the new vendor area, this year we are expanding to more vendors and more hours open to the public. Our ideas keep growing to meet the crowd’s demand,” said Harry,
The first event is ‘crop’ (a ‘crop’ is a get-together for scrapbooking aficionados) that take place Friday and Saturday at the church. It was already sold out before Christmas with 64 attendees.
Harry’s analogy of an old fashioned quilting bee may be the reason for its popularity. Four scrapbooking vendors with featured supplies and embellishments along with mini-classes are available. Personalities of the books and participants liven up the tables as new designs and shared stories are brought to be. The creative process of family births, marriages, photos and tidbits coming to life in the pages conjure up a passion for sharing stories, life events, and new techniques and patterns.
The second event, a silent auction and gift basket drawing are open free to the public with expanded hours to include both Friday and Saturday.
Auction items include two rounds of golf for two plus carts at Tanglewood Manor Golf Club in Quarryville; two framed photos from Sporting the Stars “Philadelphia Sports History” and LOVE WordArt (framed and double matted), “Things Philadelphians Love” the image of the famous LOVE statue; French Creek Boutique items; $175 chocolate lover’s basket from Morgantown’s Forbes Insurance; two date night baskets with restaurant gift certificates, wine with glasses etc. from the Elverson Walking Club; donated gift cards from Emily’s Restaurant and Briar Rose Greenhouse, to name a few.
Attendees will bid on silent auction items by registering their contact information, and getting an assigned bidders number. Next to each item is a sheet where bidders will write down their number and bid. There are set prices for beginning bids as well as set incremental increases for each item. At the close on Saturday, the highest bidders will be announced and contacted for payment arrangements. You do not have to be present.
Volunteers have been collecting items all year from individuals and businesses. They are currently a bustle with designing the themed baskets with donations still pouring in and accepted until the day of the event. Gift baskets include a Spa Basket; Sweetheart Basket; Twin Valley Coffee Basket (Elverson); themed Children’s baskets from Five Below; Fitness basket, Cooking and baking baskets, the list goes on and is still growing.
This year they expanded vendors’ hours to include both Friday and Saturday. Vendors include Silpada Jewelry; Thirty-One; Lancaster artist Derek Plank with framed photos and prints; Judy Hill, “The Candy lady from Wyomissing” with chocolates and more; Janelle Lieberher’s “Young Living Essential Oils” offering a free class at 11 a.m. Saturday. Each dealer will donate a $50 item to be chanced off. Also, items will be available for purchase.
“While responsible for getting the ‘ball rolling’ on the Food for Families Fundraiser, it is only possible with the help of volunteers and the community who supports it,” said Harry. “Volunteering at the food pantry is the best thing that I have ever done – and putting together the fundraiser is the second best.”
Last year’s event raised $6,500. This year an initial $2,000 check will be presented to Food Pantry Directors Howard and Carol Moss with the balance of the proceeds delivered after the event. All time, talent and treasure are donated.
“Howard (Moss, Director of the Twin Valley Food Pantry) referred to this as their biggest fundraiser of the year,” Harry said.
The Twin Valley Food Pantry distribution is usually the 4th Tuesday of the month. TVFP served 503 people and 11 new families in January, an increase of 7.5 percent from December. Total children supported averages 143 each month resulting in a total population served, 5,018 people annually.
Anyone interested in volunteering for Food for Families, or with other questions about the event, should contact Deborah Harry at 610-286-1970. The new website is www.twinvalleyfoodpantry.org. Facebook page is Food for Families Fundraiser Crop. Check for daily updates.