Tea 4 Tots Raises Funds with Gala Brunch

Area residents combined some unique fun with fund-raising to benefit the annual Toys for Tots holiday campaign. Shawn Cardinelli said 150 persons attended her third annual Tea 4 Tots event on Saturday, November 19, at the Lamar Christian Church Fellowship Hall.

Quite a few young ladies attended their first tea/brunch, usually in the company of their moms or grand-moms, to sample the menu created by Myrna DuVall of Granada, and various helpers. The event began with a coffee bar at 9:30am which was followed by a social hour and time to cast votes for the favorite table setting.  Cardinelli said at least $750 was raised and 180 new gifts were contributed to the annual Christmas give-away run by Darlene Lopez and her helpers.

Each tea hostess decorates their table in a holiday motif and invites eight guests, each of whom is asked to contribute $5 and a gift for area youngsters. The tables are judged Friday night by the hostesses and by all the patrons on Saturday morning.  Winners included: Rhonda Snyder, Cayla Dowen, Char Herrerra and Lisa Harvey.  Each won a $50 cash prize donated by Ace Tire and Downy and Harvey passed their prize over to Toys for Tots.

4Rivers sponsored the meal and expenses to put on the annual tea. FFA members from McClave assisted in the kitchen, with the serving as well as the cleanup at the end event.  Cardinelli said 37 merchants also contributed door prizes which were given away during the brunch.  Of special note, a singer/impersonator of Roy Orbison traveled from Denver to provide the entertainment, and made his own personal donation to Toys for Tots.

Cardinelli commented, “Our community is blessed to have someone (Lopez) with such a big heart to head this program. My ultimate dream would be such a big turnout that Darlene and her crew could just be able to fill their bags with new items, no matter what age the gift is intended for.  What a blessing that would be.”  Shawn offered a heart-felt thank you to Myrna Duvall and Gayla Dowen for their continued support and contributions to the Tea 4 Tots event.

Contributing sponsors included:  Main Street Shop,  Bettiann’s,  Cat Calls,  Thoughts in Bloom,
Something Different Something New,  Bells & Beaus,  Village Barber,  Christi Stulp,  Amy Fort,
Shawn Cardinelli,  Meadow Gardens,  Carla’s Dress Shop,  Dianna Lynn Fashion,  Brew Unto Others,  Heart of Country,  Lisa Harvey,  Flower Boutique,  Hair Gallery and  Home Store.

By Russ Baldwin