By Heather Graves
Editor
HOWARD-SUAMICO – After two years of virtual events because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 14th annual Taste of the Villages and Auction will once again be in-person.
“We are so excited to be in-person,” Kourtney Feldhausen, student and family engagement coordinator for the Howard-Suamico School District and The Giving Tree coordinator, said. “After two years of having a virtual event, the excitement and energy of the evening will be back. There is so much value in people coming together to support a community.”
Feldhausen said the event is the primary funding source for The Giving Tree’s – an organization that focuses on equitable access to food, shelter, transportation and resources for students and families in the Howard-Suamico School District – annual operations.
“All monies go to The Giving Tree, and our vision of an education without barriers,” she said. “We support students and their families through monthly food and hygiene products, school snacks, school supplies and backpacks, ensuring all students have access to music, transportation needs, our winter holiday store, and other areas being responsive to student and family needs. While we are part of the Howard-Suamico School District, our budget is based completely on donations.”
Feldhausen said the Taste of the Villages and Auction was started as an idea from the Howard-Suamico Business Professional Association.
“They believed that with a community coming together to support (the cause), we could have lasting change with our students and families in need in the Howard-Suamico School District,” she said. “Aaron Wolf with 1951 West/Rock Garden offered up his space and businesses, restaurants and community members donated items for our live and silent auctions and food sampling. Now 14 years later, our venue hasn’t changed, and the event only happens due to the generosity of so many in our community.”
The 14th annual event is set for 5:30-9 p.m. Thursday, April 21 at 1951 West.
Feldhausen said tables of 10 are available for purchase for $600.
“There will be no individual tickets sold this year due to COVID-19,” she said. “Pete Petoniak will be emceeing our evening. We will have a live and silent auction, eight different raffles and food samples from 12 different restaurants.”
More information on the event and a link to purchase tables can be found at, hssdschools.org/community/the-giving-tree/taste-of-the-villages.
More information about The Giving Tree can be found on its Facebook page.