Altrusa’s Taste of the Holidays Returns to Ring in the Season
By Tonya Warren | Photos from the Temple Daily Telegram archives
Nov. 17 is right around the corner and members of Temple’s Altrusa organization are as busy as elves in preparation for their sole annual fundraiser, Taste of the Holidays. Money raised from this special event helps fund the group’s efforts to promote literacy and other worthwhile projects such as assisting teens in developing leadership skills.
Longtime member, Janna Janes said, “In the modern age of technology and rapid change, literacy and the ability to constantly learn new skills will set students on a path for success and make them successful leaders within their household and beyond.”
Altrusa is a worldwide organization consisting of dedicated executives and business professionals who are service minded towards their communities. Temple’s chapter currently has 88 members so it’s all hands on deck (or sleigh!) as members serve on various committees to make the undertaking a successful event. Attendees will enjoy this festive gathering in the Frank W. Mayborn Civic and Convention Center amid inspiring décor in colors of red, green, brown, and black to highlight this year’s theme, “Comfort and Joy,” a fitting theme, considering stresses of a global pandemic these last few years.
Fun, food, and fashion are mainstays of the big event. Members of the menu committee have worked for months in selecting recipes for the meal, and even more impressive is the fact they will be preparing and serving lunch to about 700 plus attendees. Area women will be modeling fashions from Brickwood, Christy’s of Salado, Susan Marie’s and Zooty’s.
Tickets for a prize drawing are sold before and during the event for $25 each and you need not be present to win. Six raffle packages are valued over $1,000 each. Taryn Cox, this year’s event chairwoman, said, “This year we have a stunning Charlie Wharton pendant and necklace, and popular local artist, Stephen King, will donate a piece of his artwork.”
She added that money raised from raffle ticket sales goes directly to high school senior scholarships. Last year, Altrusa awarded 10 $2,000 scholarships to the college or university of the recipient’s choice, not a small thing, considering COVID-19 was straining household budgets.
By supporting this fun and important endeavor, attendees will have the satisfaction of knowing they’re helping improve local literacy and give hope to at-risk youth. Even providing hygiene kits (book included!) have a greater purpose than just combed hair. Cleanliness promotes a sense of dignity and self-worth, thus making the recipient open to learning and growing from within.
Janes said, “Assisting with resource development for the education of children and the betterment of a community raises the level of productivity and the potential for making miracles happen.” After all, it is a season of miracles.
Know before you go
Location: Frank W. Mayborn Civic and Convention Center in Temple
Reservations are $55 each and may be purchased online Oct. 1 to Nov. 10. You may also print the registration form from altrusatemple.org and mail it in with payment. No reservations will be sold day of the event.
Doors open at 10:30 a.m. with lunch beginning at 11:30 a.m. The event ends around 1:15 p.m.
