Local benefit for needy families a rousing success | Community Spirit

Oldsmar -- The Oldsmar Cares International Wine & Food Gala held at the East Lake Woodlands Country Club on Feb. 10 was an unprecedented success for a first-time event. 

Businesses and caring community members rallied behind the idea to “Love Your Neighbor” and filled the hall with energy and enthusiasm for the silent and live auction to raise the funds to assist families in the greater-Oldsmar area who have fallen on hard times. 
 
Attendees enjoyed an international selection of food donated by local restaurants and voted for their favorites. Applebees took home the “Best Taste of Gala” award and Baby Cakes & More received the “Best Spirit of Gala” award. Other participating restaurants included A Piece of Cake, Boston Cooker, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chef Li, Eggstyle, Fratelli’s, Lynn’s Catering, The Melting Pot, and Pollo Tropical. To compliment the cuisine were a vast selection of wines served by Barefoot, PRP Wines, Southern Wine & Spirits.

One family spoke of how Oldsmar Cares helped in their time of need when their home burned down in December. They were provided assistance to bridge the delay in their insurance claim before the holidays. Today, they are back on their feet and recovering from this tragedy. Now they are giving back, donating a Cheesecake Factory cheesecake to the silent auction and raising money for other families in need. 

Vice-Mayor Doug Bevis kept the auction hopping, getting top bids for many one-of-a-kind items including a vacation at the Sands of Islamarada, a sight-seeing Cirrus SR22 plane tour over Tampa Bay, and a weekend behind the wheel of a $145,000 Tesla.  Guests bid generously, far exceeding all expectations for this inaugural event.

Major event sponsors included:
 
Best Buy
City of Oldsmar
CUMC Woman's Club
Linda Norris
Metro Outdoor Advertising
Nielsen
Republic Waste
Rotary Club of East Lake
Rotary Club of Oldsmar
St. Pete Times
StellarNet
TECO
Walt Fitzgerald
 

Oldsmar Cares is grateful to our community for a packed house, a great time, and a large deposit to the coffers, 100% of which will provide our neighbors with rent and utility assistance, a food pantry, and a clothes closet when they are in need.  If you or someone you know is in need or if you would like to volunteer or make a contribution, contact Oldsmar Cares at info@oldsmarcares.org or (813) 415-7373.