Eat, drink, be merry during Care Affair
It's just about time to once again eat, drink and be merry while supporting neighbors in need.
CDAIDE's fifth annual Care Affair will be at 5 p.m. April 27 at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.
"This has been our biggest fundraiser in the past years," CDAIDE Executive Director Jason Nye said Thursday. "We're really hoping to see our community turn out to support their neighbors in the hospitality industry."
Local chefs will show off their culinary chops by creating unique appetizers for Care Affair guests. Bidders will have the chance to acquire their services during a live auction.
The goal is to raise at least $80,000 to support local hospitality and restaurant workers when they encounter financial difficulties. This includes helping cover rent increases, loss of hours, transportation troubles, medical expenses or time off work due to medical procedures.
Last year's Care Affair raised more than $84,000 and helped support nearly 300 local workers.
One such beneficiary from last year's event is a single mother in the hospitality industry who escaped an abusive relationship. With rent increases, she was unable to make house payments. She also lost custody of her child when she lost her home.
"This mother came to CDAIDE with little hope of overcoming her housing challenge," Nye shared. "She didn’t have the money to cover first and last month’s rent and a deposit for an apartment. We were able to help her in her search for an apartment and pay the needed fees to get into it. Due to this, she recovered custody of her child. Today, they are still living together."
In another situation, a woman kept missing work to care for her significant other, who had brain cancer.
"With neither one of them able to take shifts at work and medical bills accruing rapidly, we stepped in to cover their monthly costs, ensuring the woman could spend the time that was left with her loved one," Nye said.
Care Affair auction items will also include a trip to La Paz, Mexico, local escapes and experiences and exciting raffle prizes.
Nye said the nonprofit is hoping to throw quite the party. He expressed his appreciation for those who sponsor and support the event.
"If you're involved in any way, please know that you are changing lives," he said.
Tickets to the Care Affair are $75 each and include appetizers, a meal donated and prepped by Sysco, a champaign toast, a drink ticket and more.
Info and tickets: cdaide.org/events