LOOKING FORWARD TO FUNDRAISER — Laura Rauch, government director of the United Method of Jefferson County, is trying ahead to a key fundraiser that lastly will occur since she got here on board to the place in July 2020. The Style of Jefferson County fundraiser, which wasn’t held in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, makes a return this spring and will likely be held April 6 from 5:30 p.m. to eight p.m. at St. Florian Occasion Heart in Wintersville. The occasion options a chance for patrons to style samples from eating places, bakeries and caterers in Jefferson County with proceeds benefiting 13 United Method-member businesses with diverse missions that assist Jefferson County residents in want.
— Janice Kiaski
STEUBENVILLE — Laura Rauch is trying ahead to getting a “style” of one thing that she thought she would have savored by now in her position as the manager director of the United Method of Jefferson County.
The COVID-19 pandemic, nevertheless, not as soon as, however twice, moved the favored Style of the County fundraiser off the social calendar and to the again burner, first in 2020, then in 2021.
However 2022 brings its return, this time round as a spring occasion, as a substitute of the standard fall favourite it has been.
And its theme, appropriately, is “Welcome Again to the Style of the County.”
“I’m very enthusiastic about it,” Rauch stated of the Style of the County, which will likely be held April 6 from 5:30 p.m. to eight p.m. at St. Florian Occasion Heart, 286 Luray Drive, Wintersville. “I’d heard that it’s a extremely nice time for the group to return collectively and style samples from eating places, caterers and bakeries throughout Jefferson County,” she added.
The night contains a informal, conversational atmosphere the place patrons can chill out, pattern native meals and desserts and take part in different on-site fundraisers — all whereas in the end serving to space residents in want.
Tickets are $35 per individual and can be found quite a lot of methods, in response to Rauch. They are often purchased on-line at https://www.givesignup.org/TicketEvent/TasteofJeffersonCounty; by calling the United Method workplace at (740) 284-9000 or stopping there at 511 N. Fourth St., Steubenville; or by buying them on the door the night of the occasion.
Amongst distributors on board to take part to this point are newcomer Pastaio in Wintersville, A Contact of Magnificence, Undo’s Catering, Downtown Bakery, The Laurel’s of Steubenville, Margaret’s Cafe, Sizzling Meals On ‘Da Hill, Bennigan’s, Brooklyn Bagel, Rusty Bull, Varsity Canine, 740 BBQ and Kathy’s Little Kitchen and recent popped kettle corn.
This yr’s occasion has a brand new twist in welcoming meals vehicles, in response to Rauch.
“We have now opened this as much as meals vehicles,” she stated, encouraging meals truck distributors in addition to different eating places, bakeries and caterers concerned with being part of Style of the County to contact her by telephone at (740) 284-9000 or by e-mail to lrauch@unitedway-jc.org.
Rauch turned government director in July 2020, just some months shy of what would have been that yr’s installment of the fundraiser and her first publicity to it.
“I had by no means participated,” Rauch stated. “That is my first time of ever doing Style of the County as a result of we weren’t capable of have it in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID.
“I used to be actually trying ahead to getting a ‘style’ of the Style,” she stated, “however sadly, it bought canceled in 2020 and each time we had been going to have it in October of final yr, the county’s announcement of the COVID numbers had been very excessive, so we determined we had been going to shake issues up a little bit bit and have it within the spring versus having it within the fall, simply because we really feel prefer it’s time for folks to return out after they’ve been indoors due to winter for thus many months.”
And different nonprofits, she identified, are busy planning occasions, too. “Issues are occurring now with many teams having fundraisers with a variety of nonprofits having golf outings and different occasions which can be open air,” she stated.
“I’m actually trying ahead to seeing all of the supporters for the United Approach to end up,” Rauch commented. “I’m actually excited to see the distributors come out to assist the group and to offer their enterprise some publicity as a result of actually that’s what that is about — for the group to return collectively to assist the United Method and for the distributors to return out and promote their enterprise,” she stated.
And cash generated will go towards the 2022 general marketing campaign to boost $350,000 this yr that aids 13 member businesses of their diverse missions.
Businesses supported are A Caring Place, Little one Advocacy Heart; A Little one’s Place CASA Ltd; ALIVE; Jefferson County Neighborhood Motion Council; Smithfield Associates Church Meals Pantry; St. Joseph Church W.E.B.A. Meals Pantry; Toronto Providers Committee: United Sole; 2-1-1 Data and Referral; American Pink Cross, Lake to River Chapter; Vagabond Missions; Household Restoration Heart; Ohio Valley Youth Community, Sycamore Youth Heart; Coleman Skilled Providers, Visitation Heart; Ohio Valley Well being Heart; Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Household and Neighborhood Providers; and Dolly Parton Creativeness Library.
“It’s actual vital to assist fund these businesses to allow them to assist others in dire want throughout Jefferson County,” Rauch stated, noting the member businesses supported assist with a wide range of wants, together with meals, well being and wellness, monetary stability and schooling, for instance. “It’s vital to boost this cash,” she stated.
Along with meals, Style of the County consists of door prizes, a Chinese language public sale and a chance for patrons to vote for the seller with the “Finest Entree,” “Finest Dessert” and “Finest Sales space Show.” In 2019, finest entree honors went to The Laurels of Steubenville, accepted by Jamie Maley; finest dessert, gained by Contact of Magnificence, accepted by Stephanie Pethtel and Jo Ann Meyer; and finest sales space show, gained by Texas Roadhouse. The 2019 theme was ‘A Native Affair.” Different themes in years previous has been “Across the World,” “Below the Sea,” “A Evening on the Carnival” and “Oktoberfest.”
Style of Jefferson County marked its twenty fifth anniversary in 2019. Jim Morgan and Sue Hershey are credited with getting it established in 1995.
