Grab those wide-brimmed hats and a pair of white gloves: Plant City Relay for Life will be hosting its second tea party fundraiser Saturday, Feb. 20.
Janice Perkins, fundraising chair for Plant City Relay for Life, hopes that funds from the annual event will top the $2,000 raised last year.
“Our fingers are still crossed that we can do good,” Perkins said.
Tickets sales for the tea party, which will be held at First Baptist Church of Plant City, serve as a fundraiser for Relay for Life teams. Donations made at the event will go toward the greater Relay for Life organization.
Perkins said that attendees will be able to see their donated dollars put in action.
“It’s definitely for a good cause,” Perkins said. Prior to her volunteer work with Relay for Life, she worked for the American Cancer Society. “It’s nice to see that you’re giving … and touching the lives of cancer patients in your community.”
For $10 per person, tea party guests will be able to choose between flavored or plain black tea or a lighter tea. They’ll also enjoy a soup and salad course, followed by finger chicken salad sandwiches, small quiches and mini bite-sized delicacies for dessert. Each guest will go home with a chocolate teacup souvenir, a sweet treat donated by Neumeisters Candy Shoppe.
“It’s a very nice experience,” Perkins said. “They come in, they’re not rushed.”
To make the event even more fun, guests are encouraged to decorate their table with a holiday theme, such as Valentine’s Day or Christmas. The best-decorated table will receive a tea pot, donated by Camellia Rose Boutique.
Guests also will be able to participate in a silent auction. Items up for grabs include a pet care basket from Timberlane Pet Hospital & Resort, tickets to Dinosaur World and Tampa Improv and Avon gift baskets.
Tea party guests will also learn about Relay for Life and associated programs, specifically Road to Recovery. The program partners cancer patients who need to be taken to the hospital with volunteers who drop them off and take them back home.
“They’re always looking for drivers,” Perkins said. “We’re focusing on services to get the word out.”
The fundraiser will promote Road to Recovery, Relay for Life and community advocacy all while guests enjoy an afternoon of great food and fun activities.
For those interested in helping at the event, Perkins and the rest of the Relay for Life team are currently looking for a dessert sponsor, as well as volunteers to serve tea and assist at the party. Volunteer hours can be given to students, if needed.
Tickets can be bought by phone or by email for groups and individuals. Individuals can also buy tickets at the door.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.