Forget about the usual ballroom fundraiser with pompous speeches and tables that look like enormous wedding cakes. The Price to Play event in Demorest on Sunday night was a very different experience. The sold-out event, which was hosted by Chef Jamie Allred at Holden Oversoul Kitchen & Oyster Bar, brought together delicious cuisine, amazing music, and a worthy cause in a laid-back, friendly atmosphere.
Price to Play, a nonprofit organization aiming to construct an inclusive playground at Demorest Springs Park, benefited from the benefit. Wheelchair-accessible surfacing, sensory panels, and equipment that allows kids of all abilities to play together are all features of the proposed area.
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The perfect Southern set-up
Guests mixed under a covered patio and freely moved between inside and outdoor seating while the event was illuminated by soft string lights. The event was handled by volunteers who generously gave their time and tips to the cause.
Children were entertained by the Brella Studio art truck while parents savored live acoustic music by Eric Thurmond and buffet-style meals. The menu for the evening featured Texga Farms beef, Rappahannock oysters, a full Meishan hog, Springer Mountain chicken sliders, hot dogs, sides, and banana pudding that was liberally replenished until the restaurant closed.Children are welcome to decorate the outside of the Brella Studio art truck and participate in interactive art activities inside, which is located outside Holden Oversoul. (The Cute North Georgian Magazine/Carly McCurry)
The evening function went off without a hitch. It was a real team effort.
As she observed kids scuttling across tables, Marcia Hamil, a prominent local figure and the author of Bites and Bubbly, remarked, “This is fantastic.” The turnout is good.
Shawn Allen, a city councilman and member of the Downtown Development Authority, sat next to her, supporting the cause and indulging in some delicious seafood and BBQ.
Beyond the event
Price to Play aims to promote shared public space by going above and beyond the basic requirements set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act.The designed playground is in line with contemporary civic design trends, which view accessibility as an essential part of community planning rather than an afterthought.
The initiative’s practical and symbolic location is Demorest Springs Park, a sunlit haven in the middle of the metropolis.
The project is expected to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Support has been expressed by Mayor Jerry Harkness, and locals like Allred are raising money through their businesses. Money and awareness are raised through events like Sunday’s.
Nearly $6,000 was raised for the playground’s installation through the Holden Oversoul benefit.
Allred stated, “This far exceeded our expectations for this event.” Thank you everybody!
Even though the playground project is still in its early stages, Sunday’s fundraising demonstrated that inclusivity isn’t only a big-city goal and showed more than just financial support.
The message became evident when the music subsided and the tables were cleared: local is where inclusion begins. And it can happen without a ballroom or a table decked out like a wedding cake.
