CHR to host 7th Annual Mardi Gras Fundraising Event
Tickets are on sale for an upcoming event that will bring the best of New Orleans to the islands.
Hosted by Community Housing and Resources, the 7th Annual Mardi Gras Fundraising Event will be held on Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. at The Community House on Sanibel. It will offer a fun evening of New Orleans-style food, entertainment, games and activities, while raising funds to support CHR’s mission.
“This is our major fundraiser of the year,” Executive Director Melissa Rice said.
“The funds go to provide affordable housing on the island,” she added.
CHR currently manages 74 units in 11 locations, which require regular maintenance and resiliency updates like replacing old appliances, installing new flooring, putting up cabinets and more.
“There’s a lot of work to keep those in top shape,” Rice said.
For the event, The Porchdogs will again perform Cajun, Zydeco and rock blues genres.
“They were fabulous,” she said of the 2018 fundraiser. “Everybody loved them.”
There will be blackjack, craps and roulette tables set up for play.
“We are having games of chance once again,” Rice said, adding that tournament play poker is a tentative possibility.
Attendees can also partake in a bourbon bar, which will feature a bourbon expert.
“Who is going to basically share with people what the different bourbons taste like and what they should be looking for in a bourbon,” she said.
There will be a palm reader, tarot card reader and fortune telling.
“We are having the fortune tellers,” Rice said.
Attendees will also have an opportunity to win raffle prizes, like parasailing for two with YOLO Watersports and golf cart rentals from Sanibel Carts. The grand prize will be a trip to New Orleans.
“So chances to win lots of fun stuff,” she said.
The Sanibel Catering Company by Baileys will serve up a spread.
“It will be fabulous Cajun food, including crawfish, oysters, jambalaya and bourbon smoked pork,” Rice said, noting that the build-your-own beignet station will be back again by popular demand.
“We’re not charging for them this year,” she added.
Attendees will have the chance to further support CHR with Give to Give opportunities at the “Homes of Love” area, where cabinetry, appliances and such can be bought to help with needed renovations.
“We are inviting guests to donate toward items that CHR is desperately in need of,” Rice said.
Event tickets are $150 per person and include beer and wine.
Mardi Gras and New Orleans-style attire is welcome.
“People can come in costume if they want,” she said.
To not miss out, the community is encouraged to reserve their tickets quickly.
“It is touted as the most fun fundraiser on Sanibel,” Rice said.
“We are anticipating a record crowd,” she added.
This year’s Cajun King sponsors include Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, the Sanibel Catering Company by Bailey’s and Lily & Company Jewelers. The New Orleans trip sponsor is Chip and Nancy Roach and the band sponsor is Dr. Phillip Marks, who is also the chair of CHR’s LEO Committee.
Tickets are available at www.SanibelCHR.org/MardiGras or by contacting info@SanibelCHR.org. They can also be purchased from Bailey’s General Store, at 2477 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.
For more information, visit www.SanibelCHR.org or call 239-472-1189.
The Community House is at 2173 Periwinkle Way.