Valerie's House Charlotte County To Host "Celebrating Charlotte"

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - May 3, 2022 - PRLog -- Valerie's House is hosting its first-ever fund-raising event in Charlotte County July 30 to raise funds to support Charlotte County children grieving the loss of loved ones.

"Celebrating Charlotte: Celebrating What Makes This Home" is the theme of the fund-raiser planned at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Organizers are planning a day of food samples from some of Charlotte County's best restaurants, select local brewery tastings, fashion and shopping in the marketplace for unique creations and hand-made items.

Dillard's will present a fashion show and provide mini make-up makeovers.

"We want this to be a day all about Charlotte County and what makes this such a great place to live," said Christine Carey, director of the Charlotte County Valerie's House.

Burnt Store Title & Escrow of Southwest Florida has signed on as the presenting sponsor of the event.  Other sponsorships are available from $3,000 to $5,000 by contacting Carey at 239-841-0381 or emailing her at christine@valerieshouse.org .

"We're also looking for vendors who want to showcase their products.  Specifically, we are encouraging restaurants, breweries, crafts, salons, home good stores, women's clothing stores and more to get involved," Carey said.

Vendor space is available for $125 or $75 plus a donated auction basket.  A 50/50 drawing also will be conducted.

General admission tickets are $25 with children ages 5 and younger admitted free with one paying adult.  VIP tickets are $35 each and entitle the purchaser to shop one hour before the doors officially open.  Tickets are on sale at www.valerieshouse.org/events

All funds raised at the event will be used to support programming costs of Valerie's House in Charlotte County, including materials for group nights and school groups, staff for group nights, counseling services, legal, financial and food assistance for grieving children and families. All services are offered free of charge to grieving families.

Valerie's House, which is headquartered in Fort Myers, has provided grief support services to 245 Charlotte County children and 76 caregivers since its opening in Charlotte County in 2019.  Grief support groups are offered at 1st United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Charlotte with additional services offered at the Family Services Center in Port Charlotte.

One in eight children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 25, according to the 2021 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

Valerie's House is fully supported by community donations. For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org