Hospice volunteers Doug and Shirley Craze enjoy the food and entertainment at the first Homegrown for Hospice event.

The first annual Homegrown for Hospice: Local Fare & Local Wares was held on Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 at the Anvil Restaurant in Harpers Ferry. This event was a chance to spotlight local restaurants and artisans. 

According to Laura Schiffman Newberry, Community Relations Representative and the event coordinator, “Public awareness like the kind generated during an event like this is crucial to ensuring that eligible families receive Hospice care. Forging relationships is integral and, of course, fund-raising ensures that these services are available regardless of ability to pay.”   

Several area restaurants provided the food and service for the event. Some of the delectable items included Anvil crab balls, stuffed grape leaves made by the Mediterranean Café, beef brisket prepared by Charles Town Races and Slots, southern beef vegetable soup by Georgia Boy Café, garlic rolls baked by La Mezzaluna and coffee provided by Black Dog Coffee Company. The audience was entertained by the folksinger Sybil Schiffman and singer and guitarist Sam Felker.  Members of Rotary Club of Charles Town were on hand to serve appetizers and direct guests to the appetizers, auction items and sell 50/50 tickets. 

Many local artists including Mary Alice Bowers, Treva Blackford and Sheila Brannan donated their works to be sold during either the silent or live action by auctioneer Marty Kable who entertained the audience with good natured jokes and banter. Local artwork and services were sold to help Hospice of the Panhandle continue to provide palliative care for residents of the Eastern Panhandle as they ve been doing since 1980. Proceeds from the evening totaled over $6,000. 

Hospice of the Panhandle would like to thank the Rotary Club of Charles Town and the Anvil for co-sponsoring and hosting the event, all the artisans and businesses who donated their wares and services, the restaurants for donating food and staff, Marty & Carol Kable for volunteering their auctioneering services, the hospice volunteers who helped support the event, and all those who attended for making this evening a huge success.

— By Ashley Young, Marketing Assistant, Hospice of the Panhandle