Vines and Tynes fundraiser to benefit area’s needy

Published 1:28 pm Thursday, March 10, 2016

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">JENNINGS — Members of Vines and Tynes are hoping that raising a toast will help raise money for those who need a helping hand in Jeff Davis Parish.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The nonprofit’s seven-member board will hold its inaugural wine tasting fundraiser 2-6 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at the fairgrounds and multipurpose building.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The location will allow both vendors and guests to enjoy a great experience in the open or in a climate-controlled, comfortable environment based upon Mother Nature’s decision,” organizer Ricky Edwards said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The group hopes to make it an annual spring gathering and to include craft beers next year. The event will pair local flavors with over 25 wines, Edwards said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“We want to create a fun social experience, while helping raise funds to extend a helping hand where needed,” he said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“For instance, if a single mother has an unexpected medical emergency and has to decide to pay the medical bills or her utilities, we can help, or a hospice patient needs a wheelchair ramp, or a church group needs extra funds to send their kids to a retreat … we want to be able to help.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Thirteen caterers will provide samples of cuisine and specialties to be paired with various wines. The food offerings will include brisket, crab cakes, crawfish etouffee, boudin balls and chicken fettuccine, as well as cookies, tarts and other sweets.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“We have a lot of different foods that are going to be used and paired with the different wines,” Edwards said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The food will be provided by Cafe du Welsh, Cajun Tales in Welsh, Catering by Andrea in Jennings, Cookey’s Caterers in Lake Charles, Cormier Specialty Meats in Jennings, Chef James Hamilton of the Coushatta Casino Resort, Darrell’s of Jennings, Frye’s Crawfish of Welsh, Green’s Cafe in Jennings, Kate’s Cakes in Iota, Mike’s Seafood and Steakhouse in Jennings, Sassy’s Oils in Lake Charles, and Sweets and Treats in Lake Charles.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Glazer’s Distributors of Lake Charles will provide the wine.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">No wine will be sold during the event, but attendees can order wine and have it shipped to the Jennings Piggly Wiggly, which will donate proceeds from the sale back to the organization.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“This is a much smaller scale than the Rouge et Blanc in Lake Charles,” Edwards said. “But we hope people will want to socialize and break bread with others while drinking a little wine. We just want everyone to come together to have a good time and help others.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Tickets for the event are $100 a person, with 350 tickets to be sold.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Tickets are available from Vines and Tynes board members: Steve Eastman at The Bank in Welsh; Sonja Landry at the St. Martin Bank in Jennings; and Rachael Duhon, Robin Byler, Raynetta Ward, Jason Rogers and Edwards.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">More information is also available on the Vines and Tynes Facebook page.</span>