AROUND TOWN

Planners whet appetites for Taste of the Naiton

3/15/2012
BY BARBARA HENDEL
BLADE SOCIETY EDITOR
  • Toledo-opera-guild-bakeless-bake-sale

    Helping the Toledo Opera Guild's Bakeless Bake Sale are, from left, Calista Toner, Austin Takei, event executive chief Wendy Kromer-Schell, Charlie Gorski, and James Schwann.

  • Taste of the Nation co-chairmen Terri Thompson, Moussa Salloukh and Marla Schecht.
    Taste of the Nation co-chairmen Terri Thompson, Moussa Salloukh and Marla Schecht.

    Taste of the Nation Toledo committee members are already making plans for next month and hosting gatherings leading up to the event. Marla Schecht and Terri Thompson, co-chairmen with others, report nearly $1,100 raised during a happy hour-themed Check in for Children last month at LaScola Grill.

    Moussa Salloukh, co-owner of La Scola and a co-chairman of Taste Toledo, provided free appetizers and made a cash donation for every "Hungry-tini" sold. Girl in the Glass City blogger Christine Senack made a donation for everyone who attended the event and went on Facebook to "check in." Keith Brooks of Keith Brooks Florist donated a few of his creative floral arrangements for an extra flair to the happy hour. Posters and Save the Date cards were distributed for the April 29 Taste Toledo at the Toledo Club. The nearly 70 attendees made random donations and purchased raffle tickets, T-shirts, and entrance tickets. Taste Toledo is part of a national effort to help end childhood hunger. Information: toledotaste.org or 419-345-5543.

    'Friend-raisers' for Heart and Soul: Caring for Our Community are, clockwise from top, Tony Rasczyk, David Schlaudecker, darlene rasczyk, Sally Binard, and Mary Beth Zolink.
    'Friend-raisers' for Heart and Soul: Caring for Our Community are, clockwise from top, Tony Rasczyk, David Schlaudecker, darlene rasczyk, Sally Binard, and Mary Beth Zolink.

    The 8th Annual Heart and Soul: Caring for Our Community is slated for April 14 in the newly renovated suites-level lounge in Fifth Third Field. The event to benefit mental health organizations including Harbor, Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital, and Thomas M. Wernert Center, was announced during a "Friend-raiser" last month at Grumpy's. Event chairmen are Tony Rasczyk and Sally Binard, who founded the event. Honorary chairmen are Mary Beth Zolik of 101.5 The River and David Schlaudecker of Leadership Toledo, and the emcee will be Susan Ross Wells of WTVG-TV, Channel 13. The night includes dinner, a cash bar, silent and live auctions, and entertainment. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Information: 419-349-5643, www.heartandsoultoledo.com or go to Facebook at Heart & Soul: Caring for Our Community.

    Invitations are in the mail for a Bakeless Bake Sale presented by the Toledo Opera Guild. The Bakeless Bake Sale is actually a "no baking" campaign/fund-raiser: No auctions, no raffles, no event to attend. Just send a donation. Heather Toner, event chairman, and her daughter Calista, 10, are working together on the project with the help of other young members: James Schwann, 11, son of guild president Traci Schwann of Ottawa Hills, and her nephew Austin Takei, 12, of Philadelphia, and Charlie Gorski, 4, son of Clare Gorski of Perrysburg.

    The Executive Chef 2012 is Wendy Kromer-Schell, chef and owner of WKCafe in Sandusky, who is donating a cookie and a cup of tea/coffee to all who make a donation. Information: 419-255-7464, ext. 4.

    Helping the Toledo Opera Guild's Bakeless Bake Sale are, from left, Calista Toner, Austin Takei, event executive chief Wendy Kromer-Schell, Charlie Gorski, and James Schwann.
    Helping the Toledo Opera Guild's Bakeless Bake Sale are, from left, Calista Toner, Austin Takei, event executive chief Wendy Kromer-Schell, Charlie Gorski, and James Schwann.

    The Empty Bowls Campaign to feed the hungry is slated for noon-5 p.m. Sunday at Tam-O-Shanter Complex, 7060 Sylvania Ave. in Sylvania.

    All proceeds benefit the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank. In exchange for a cash donation, patrons are offered a bowl of soup and bread donated by area restaurants and bakeries.

    The bowls were made and donated by professional and student artists including Ann Tubbs, Les Robertson, Greg Justus, Edgerton High School students, members of the Henry County Arts Council, and more. For an additional donation, patrons can keep the bowl as a symbol of all the empty bowls in our community. Information: www.toledofoodbank.org.

    The 3rd annual Play it Forward Toy Giveaway presented by the Town Center at Levis Commons in Perrysburg is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Erie Street Market in Toledo. It is a distribution of toys to children residing in Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority housing. Each child will be given play money to shop amongst the donated toys. Free snacks and beverages donated by local merchants will be served. Adding to the fun will be special appearances by Muddy Mud Hen and Spike. The event sponsor, Cousino Harris Disaster Kleenup, donated trucks, equipment, storage space, and labor to help clean and sanitize all of the donated toys.