The Respite Care Program’s 3rd annual Garden Party fundraiser, held on Friday, September 13th, was an absolute delight! The event, put on by the Respite Board, was beautiful, engaging, and successful. The afternoon kicked off with Board member Neil Bright charming us all with his beautiful piano music, setting the perfect tone for the day. Large, colorful flower arrangements adorned every corner, and the room was filled with lively conversation and laughter.
Respite Care, a cornerstone ministry of Williamsburg United Methodist Church, provides a much-needed afternoon social program for seniors, many of whom are living with mild dementia, and an accompanying gift of time to their care partners. Thanks to the generosity of all who bought tickets, entire tables, and raffle entries, the Garden Party has once again proven to be a key fundraiser. Because of your generosity, we raised nearly $12,000! These funds will help us offer activities like music therapy, seated exercise, and painting—all at a cost lower than what two hours of in-home care would be.
With the growing senior population in our community, the need for an uplifting and engaging program like Respite has never been greater, and your support is truly making a difference in the lives of these deserving seniors and their care partners.
The event was made extra special with the support of local businesses and individuals. Seven senior living communities treated us to an incredible array of food, from a charcuterie display to a hot pasta station and to-die-for sweet potato bundt cakes. We also had amazing raffle prizes from the likes of Golden Horseshoe Golf Club, Wild Birds Unlimited, Season’s Florist, and Williamsburg Chamber Music Society. (Despite the “Friday the 13th” date, some very lucky attendees went home with these fabulous prizes!)
We couldn’t have done it without our generous sponsors, including Geddy Harris Franck & Hickman, Johnson, Gasink & Baxter, Hill & Schultz, Town Management, Colonial Center for Hearing, Emerge Church, some anonymous donors, and so many more (see full list below). A huge thank you to all who contributed! Even our Respite members got involved, creating beautiful floral table decorations and cheerful placemats.
On behalf of the entire Respite Board, staff, volunteers, and our amazing members, we send a heartfelt THANK YOU to every church member, friend, neighbor, and business who made this event such a success. And we’re not slowing down—next up, mark your calendars for the beloved Festival of Carols concert on December 15th in the WUMC Sanctuary from 2:00–3:00, followed by a reception and open house in the Respite room. We can’t wait to see you there!
FULL LIST OF SPONSORS