TASTE OF HOPE
Community center to present annual fundraiser
TROY, N.Y.>> The Hope 7 Community Center is set to hold its seventh annual A Taste of Troy fundraiser on Tuesday, April 25, at the Franklin Terrace Ballroom.
The event, which begins at 6 p.m., raises money for the community center’s food pantry and youth programs by inviting guests to sample food from almost 20 local restaurants. Among the restaurants scheduled to participate this year are The Ruck, Slidin’ Dirty, The Eatery at Carol’s Place, Dinosaur BarB-Que, Inferno Pizzeria and Mud-daddy Flats Quesadillary, as well as a new addition, Deli and Brew.
Shopping vendors will not be participating this year, as event organizers expect to seat more guests than last year, when they welcomed nearly 400 people.
“It’s grown so much that we really just needed the extra room for seating, so we can make sure peo-
ple have their own tables,” said Samantha Adkisson, youth program director at Hope 7.
Last year, the event raised nearly $16,000, a figure organizers hope to beat this year.
“We’re trying to get to $20,000 this year,” said Adkisson.
Door prizes, raffles and auctions
will be held throughout the night, with prizes including tickets to see the ballet at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, hotel stays, and four one-day Park Hopper passes for Walt Disney World. This year, Hope 7 is doing a wine pull and a “fund-a-need” raffle alternative for those whowant to donate but aren’t interested in taking a prize home.
“They can fund a need that we have for our summer camp, buy a case of produce for our pantry, or sponsor a couple of dinners for our teen nights,” said Adkisson.
Guests will be able to dine and participate in the night’s activities while enjoying live music from Preferred Entertainment, as well as the Troy High School Jazz Ensemble.
The Hope 7 Community Center began serving the Troy area in 1968 as the East Side Neighborhood Recreation Center. Located in a former firehouse at 596 Pawling Ave., Hope 7 serves as a food pantry and operates afterschool, teen and summer programs for local youth, as well as an adoption program for the holidays and back-to-school season.
Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door, and are available at Hope 7, Carol’s Place and the Eatery, De Meo’s Discount Wine & Liquor, T&J Soaps or online at www.eventbrite.com/e/a-taste-oftroy-2017-tickets-32670319806. For more information, visit www.hopeseven.com.