Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM APRIL 26 - MAY 2, 2023 UCW 11 When exploring Fayetteville's social scene, few people would con- sider looking to a nonprofit. Some- times though, the most fun can come from the unlikeliest of sources. If you are looking for a night to remem- ber, keep an eye out for e CARE Clinic's Toast of the Town — Wine, Beer & Spirits Tasting. is event has much to offer guests, but the best part is that it is all for a good cause. e CARE Clinic first broke ground on Robeson Street in 1993 after a needs assessment report across Eastern North Carolina highlighted a lack of accessible medical care for low-income individuals. Under the guidance of Sister Jean Rhodes from the Daughters of Charity, a Catholic religious community whose mis- sion is to serve the poor, e CARE Clinic found its footing. Now, the clinic is federally qualified under the National and North Carolina Associations of Free and Charitable Clinics. Its mission is to provide free, quality healthcare to uninsured adults in Cumberland and bordering counties. It is an overwhelming task to undertake when considering the problem's scope — over one million people without health insurance in North Carolina. As an independent nonprofit clin- ic, it relies on donations and spon- sorships to support daily operations as they care for thousands of patients annually. ree yearly fundraisers help reach financial goals, but they are also welcomed as opportunities to step beyond the clinic's walls into the community. Located close to downtown, e CARE Clinic links up with the Fayetteville social scene. e Toast of the Town started as a low-key event on the top floor of the Prince Charles Hotel. For those familiar with Fayetteville, you will recognize that the jump from this single room to the entire Cape Fear Botanical Garden expanse is quite sizable. Organiz- ers are overjoyed by the continually growing popularity of this event. If you missed the 2022 Toast of the Town, let me walk you through our night in the garden. e Toast of the Town begins in the front entrance hall of the Botanical Garden. Guests filter through check- in and can be photographed in the "Step-and-Repeat" photo center sponsored by the UPS Store. ey are then handed complimentary wine and beer glasses for tastings throughout the night. ese glasses are available thanks to the contri- butions of some of the major sup- porters, including Cape Fear Valley Health System, the Waren Invest- ment Group of Wells Fargo Advisors and Player McLean, LLP. With glasses in hand, guests are guided into the Orangery room. is room houses reserved tables saved for sponsors to congregate with their teams, staff or clients for a night of social gatherings. Each table is el- egantly decorated with greenery and flowers by Debbie Bender Designs. Surrounding the perimeter of the room is a variety of silent auc- tion baskets. Each basket contains items valued at over $200; local artists, businesses and organiza- tions around Fayetteville donate these items. Some previous baskets included pre-season tickets to see the Carolina Panthers; an overnight stay at a winery from the Cape Fear Distillery; and massages, facials and pedicures for those looking to get pampered. e silent auction runs online on a virtual platform throughout the night, so bidders can be alerted via text the second they are outbid. ose looking for that typical pen- to-paper bidding can head over to bid on trips across North America and Europe provided by the Ameri- can Fundraising Foundation. Some of the winning trips in previous years included Iceland, Greece and Tuscany! Once guests have taken a lap around the Orangery, they go out- side to find the party. e border of the lawn hosts local beer, wine and spirits vendors from across North Carolina. Each vendor offers a vari- ety of drinks to satiate every palette. Wine, in particular, is provided by Mutual Distributing company and delivers nearly 60 different options to taste and order for pick-up from one of their sellers. Beer and spirits come from vendors closer to home, including Mash House Brewing Company, Dirtbag Ales, Bright Light Brewing Company and Cape Fear Distillery. Next to the drink tables stand heavy hors d'oeuvres and desserts served by Two Brothers Catering. Each meal item is unique and deli- cious, with the Two Brothers servers ensuring your plate is always full. e night would not be complete without the opportunity to bust it down on the dance floor with friends. Five Star Entertainment pumps music through the speak- ers and sets up a photo booth in the corner to commemorate the night's memories. e CARE Clinic sends a massive "ank You!" to all who make the event possible. ey do what they can for neighbors in need and lean on the whole community to support them in their work. Events like this open doors to connect with the com- munity with some fun for a cause! e 2023 Toast of the Town is scheduled for May 4. Make plans now to attend. If you are interested in participating as a sponsor or at- tending as a guest, visit the event website at www.toastofthetownfay. com, follow on Facebook, @thecar- eclinicnc, or call 910-485-0555 for more information. Editor's note: Tara Martin is the Development and Marketing Direc- tor of e CARE Clinic. is article appears in the April issue of Women's View Magazine. EVENT Care Clinic Toast of the Town is a good time for a great cause by TARA MARTIN TARA MARTIN, Contributor. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200. e CARE Clinic's Toast of the Town will be held May 4 at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. e evening will include a wine, beer and spirits tasting, silent auction, food, music and fun. (Photos of previous event by Kriss Ward Photography)