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Long Table Dinner to fight homelessness in Halton by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff 7 | Friday, September 13, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com While culinary dishes will be on the menu at a fundraising dinner Tuesday (Sept. 17) benefitting Home Suite Hope (HSH), the event will help feed the fight against homelessness. Whole Foods Market in Oakville will be transformed into an open dinner hall for its Long Table Community Dinner, which is held on a near-annual basis for different charities in the community -- HSH was selected as the beneficiary this year. HSH provides affordable transitional housing to single-parent families facing homelessness and connects them with support services offered in Halton. "They (Whole Foods) have actually wanted to do something with us for a couple of years now, so we're really thrilled that this year it's finally getting off the ground," said Janice Moro, HSH executive director. Compass restaurant executive chef Scott Bailey will be putting together the culinary creations for dinner guests -- seating is limited to 50 people. There will also be live music and a blind raffle, as well as a special soup will be served to tie into HSH's upcoming annual Empty Bowls fundraiser. "It could be an appetizer or dessert soup, but we're keeping it a surprise for our guests," Moro said. "It will be an intimate event with a beautiful ambiance and meal." The fundraising dinner starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $75, plus HST, and are available at Whole Foods Market in Oakville (301 Cornwall Rd.), by visiting www. homesuitehope.org, or contacting Jules Graham-Hood at 289-681-1757. · · · Empty Bowls is HSH's flagship fundraiser and will be celebrating its seventh year on Sunday, Oct. 20 at St. Mildred's Lightbourn Home Suite Hope's Long Table Community Dinner at Whole Foods Market Tuesday (Sept. 17) will feature Compass restaurant executive chef Scott Bailey and Whole Foods prepared foods team leader and chef Ron St. Jean. The pair is seen here working in the Whole Foods kitchen in preparation for the event. | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) School (1080 Linbrook Rd.). "We're so blessed. St. Mildred's has been an amazing partner," said Moro. "The whole school participates in some way in relation to the event -- art students create projects related to homelessness, which get displayed at the school for the event, there are student buskers, teacher and student volunteers, and its board of directors is one of the soup providers -- it's been an incredible amount of support by the venue sponsor." The event brings together more than 700 guests, 100-plus volunteers and 18 local restaurants and caterers to serve up delicious soups -- those who attend purchase a handcrafted bowl, taste a variety of soups prepared by participating local chefs and then take their bowl home as a souvenir. Celebrity-painted and signed bowls will return once again this year, including a signed bowl by actor Henry Winkler, best known for his portrayal of Fonzie on Happy Days. Last year, Empty Bowls raised more than $100,000 and this year, HSH organizers have set the target to $110,000. "The need in the community is so great with supporting single-parent families who are dealing with homelessness or housing crisis that HSH is expanding our service to serve even more families," Moro said. "And we need the funds to make that happen." HSH currently supports 11 families and expects to expand, helping close to 10 more families in the next year, added Moro. Proceeds from HSH events support providing a home for its client families as well as connecting them with integrated services that already exist in the community, all over a twoyear span. Recently, HSH was also selected to be the first replication site of the Toronto-based Woodgreen Community Services' Homeware Bound program, a four-year transitional program where the parent can complete a full college diploma. HSH will launch the program in Halton next year. LARGEST COLLECTION OVER 40 0 0 PAIRS IN STOCK! WEDNESDaY, open House on ViSiT oUR HSC iS a FaMiLY SCHooL. Everyone cares about each other. The teachers help us and we're all connected like a family." - Current HSC Student october 9 FAMOUS EUROPEAN BRAND NAMES ALL UNDER ONE ROOF Hillfield Strathallan College is an independent day school for Montessori Toddler and Pre-Kindergarten students to Grade 12. Visit us at www.hsc.on.ca. Now accepting applications for 2014. INGEBORG'S WAREHOUSE Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 to 5 Sat. 10-5 Sun. 11 to 4 Call Scott Barton 905-389-1367 1681 FINFAR COURT, MISSISSAUGA 905.823.7415 LOOK FOR US ON