Taste of the Town benefits Boys & Girls Club

The 17th Annual Taste of the Town was such a success the tally will have to be announced early next week, Terri McCormick, Boys & Girls Club of the Heartland director of development and finance, said. “Honestly, I think possibly we did reach the $100,000 goal this year, but I don’t know for sure. It was such a fantastic event, it’s going to take a couple of days to really find the exact amount. I really do think we hit 100. I do.”

Fighting back tears, McCormick praised the club’s staff.

“Our staff, our admin staff stepped up and really busted their butts and helped me,” she said. “I could not do it without every single one of them. They are so fantastic. I really do work with the best people “

McCormick thanked the sponsors, everyone who attended Thursday night,the Taste of the Town committee, the Black River Coliseum, Black River Outdoors, and Dave Williams.

“Then of course, all the vendors who were there,” she said. “They bring it every year. They really knock it out of the park every year and it’s fantastic. We’re very lucky to be in this town.”

McCormick said, “We are incredibly fortunate to have Taste of the Town as an annual event that everyone eagerly anticipates. We are delighted to have Integrate Construction Partners and The Lawrence Group as our event sponsors. Their assistance in designing our new Regional Workforce Development Teen Center has been invaluable.”

McCormick described the crowd as more than she expected. Ticket sales were limited to 800 “in consideration of our vendors,” she said. “It can be taxing to prepare food for 800 attendees, so we want to ensure our vendors are not overburdened. This year, we had 27 vendors and 65 table sponsors, making this the Boys & Girls Club of the Heartland’s most significant fundraiser.”

Raffle items available at the event included Rock the Country VIP tickets, a wine basket from Carrie Whiteley, Patron of the Arts tickets courtesy of Three Rivers College, a whiskey basket from Munch-n-Pump, a spa basket from Earth and Water, a beauty basket from Ivy Beauty House, sunglasses from Pearle Vision, diamond earrings from Whitworth’s Gift Chest Jewelers, and a three-night stay in an eight-bedroom, seven-bath house on Table Rock Lake courtesy of Nathan and Candice Maurer.

The Mega Raffle was sponsored by Black River Outdoors, who sold chances to win a SCAG Liberty 48” Hero Deck 24HP mower,” McCormick said. “A huge thank you to Wil Fischer, Newman Amusement, SEMO Selfie & Sound, and Innovative Orthodontics for their efforts and contributions that make this event a success,” she added.

She continued by saying, “I must also acknowledge our fantastic committee members, who devote their time to make this event possible: Melody Decote (Three Rivers College), Amber Christian (Christian Automotive & Tire), Sam Bacon-Gallamore (Fairfield Inn), Tamara Persons (Boy Scouts of America), Lisa Hafford (Haffy’s / Haff Whiskeys), Morgan McIntosh (Chamber of Commerce), Zach Bacon (Mossy Oak Properties / Big Whiskey’s), Megan Simpson (First Midwest Bank), Megan Hicks (Innovative Orthodontics), and Jeannette Townsend (Boys & Girls Club of the Heartland). I appreciate each and every one of them.”