GREENE COUNTY
The Culinary Club and 100 Who Care Del Webb Lake Oconee (DWLO) hosted an Italian dinner fundraiser on Aug. 25 to benefit the Greensboro-based Circle of Love Center’s Dining for A Cause building fund campaign.
Dining for a Cause presents an opportunity to bring the community together and create a ripple of positive change. By hosting dinner parties, wine nights, brunch, or even neighborhood-wide events such as the Culinary Club and 100 Who Care Del Webb Lake Oconee’s dinner, community members empower individuals and families in need by raising funds for Circle of Love Center.
The non-profit Circle of Love provides a safe haven to victims of domestic violence who need it most. By dedicating time and resources, participants send a powerful message of compassion and support.
“The Circle of Love Center provides direct and support services to victims of domestic violence and their children through residential (shelter) and nonresidential services in a five-county area: Greene, Morgan, Putnam, Baldwin, and Hancock counties,” Circle of Love Executive Director Kimberly Bennett said.
“Currently, the center is in dire need of expansion to support the growing number of victims who seek refuge at the Circle of Love Center. The new wing will house an open-concept kitchen, living room, laundry, and playroom where families can gather, communicate, and heal together as 75% of residents are children fleeing domestic violence with their mothers.”
The Dining for a Cause event started with the Culinary Club, Margaret Harker, and 100 Who Care DWLO’s Betty Aubin, who came up with a plan to open the event and sell tickets to Del Webb residents for an evening of wine tastings provided by Oconee Beverage and National Distributors followed by an Italian dinner. More support was shown at the dessert auction, where auctioneer Harvey Kart had tables bidding against each other for desserts provided by the Culinary Club’s bakers.
At the end of the evening, DWLO was thrilled to present a $14,201 check, plus a last-minute $50 donation to the Circle of Love Center for its building expansion project.
“We were so proud to collectively donate over $14,000 to Circle of Love to assist with the facility expansion project. It was a true testament to highlight what can be accomplished when we come together as a community,” Harker declared. “Not to mention that it was also a lot of fun.”