PUBLISHED NOV. 3, 2016
C.A.R.E. to host Holiday Tea fundraiser
By LOIS KINDLE
There’s nothing like an afternoon tea to spend a few hours with friends conversing, relaxing and nibbling on finger foods. It’s also a great way for a charitable organization to raise some sorely needed funds.
Toward that end, the Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort no-kill animal shelter will host its second annual Holiday Tea, Dec. 4, in the ballroom at Southshore Falls,
LYNN KESSEL PHOTO
Lynn Kessel, former Tampa Tribune community food columnist, and Shari Mereness, former cooking instructor at the Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium in Brandon, will treat Holiday Tea guests to tiers of freshly prepared finger foods like these.
5815 Sunset Falls Drive, Apollo Beach.
“It’s going to be fabulous,” said Phyllis Gannon, a five-year C.A.R.E. board member. “The food is always amazing,” she said.
“We received some wonderful comments about last year’s tea, and this one will be just as special. It’s a nice way to bring the community together in a different way, and the money it raises goes to such a worthy cause.”
The event will include a 50/50 drawing and a silent auction of gift baskets, Chloe + Isabel jewelry and other items yet to be determined. Homemade dog treats will be sold.
The cost to attend is $35 per person, and RSVPs are required. To reserve a seat, call 813-645-2273. Tables of eight are available for groups wanting to sit together.
Credit card payments can be made over the phone, and checks marked “Holiday Tea” and written out to C.A.R.E. can be mailed in advance to C.A.R.E., 1528 27th St. S.E., Ruskin 33570.
Area businesses can help the cause by donating items for the silent auction. To do so, call Penny Smith at 813-641-1040.
All proceeds from the tea will go toward the shelter’s operational expenses involving its care and adoption efforts in placing neglected, abused and unwanted dogs and cats in permanent homes, said Smith, event organizer and C.A.R.E. board member.
Seventy-two percent of all C.A.R.E. funding goes directly to animal care. Eighteen percent is spent on maintaining the facility and 10 percent is spent on fundraising and administrative costs.”
LUBELLE PUBLISHING FILE PHOTO
C.A.R.E.’s annual Holiday Tea is a great way for ladies to spend some quality time with friends conversing, relaxing and nibbling on finger foods.
“We survive solely on the generosity of the people in South Shore and surrounding communities,” Smith said. “The tea is a major fundraiser for us. We’re hoping to raise at least $3,000.”
Last year’s Holiday Tea raised about $2,500.
C.A.R.E. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, which depends entirely on the community’s support. Except for one paid employee, it operates seven days a week year-round on the work of volunteers who donate more than 10,000 hours annually.
According to the C.A.R.E. website, most of the animals that come to the shelter stay only a few weeks and need minimal care before they’re ready for permanent homes. Those who are aged, ill or “have suffered extreme trauma,” remain at the shelter for the rest of their lives. Some become ambassadors for the organization.
LYNN KESSEL PHOTO
Desserts like these will be among the foods prepared by Lynn Kessel and Shari Mereness at C.A.R.E.’s second annual Holiday Tea. Other items will include tea sandwiches and assorted finger foods. The tea will be provided by Shawn Geitner, owner of Beleave Teas.
“C.A.R.E. is a small shelter trying to do a big job,” said Joann With, a nine-year volunteer, former board member and former president. “We house about 18 dogs and 30 to 40 cats at any given time, and we’re usually full.
“It’s amazing that we’re able to do what we do on limited resources,” she added. “The annual tea is one of our top two fundraisers.”
All the animals C.A.R.E. puts up for adoption are brought up-to-date on their vaccinations and are spayed or neutered and microchipped.
C.A.R.E. also participates in the Hillsborough County Voucher Program, which offers low-cost pet spaying and neutering to income-qualifying residents.
The shelter is at 1528 27th St. S.E., Ruskin. It’s open for visits Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For additional information or directions, call 813-645-2273.
LUBELLE PUBLISHING FILE PHOTO
C.A.R.E.’s inaugural Holiday Tea fundraiser, held at the Ruskin Woman’s Club, brought in about $2,500 for the nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter in Ruskin. This year, the event will be Dec. 4 in the ballroom at Southshore Falls.
