Food Fair Benefits Project Mend-A-House

An event for area foodies aims to raise cash and awareness for those living below the poverty line in our area.

Aquia Project Mend-A-House will hold the 14th annual Taste of the Town on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at VFW Post 1503 in Dale City. More than 20 restaurants will participate in the event, including:

Applebees

Bahama Breeze

Bonefish Grill

Brittany’s Sports Bar

Chick-fil-A

China Express

China Gourmet

Dixie Bones

Moe’s Southwest Grill

Nando’s Peri Peri

Not Your Average Joe’s

Old Country Buffet

P.F. Chang’s

Red Lobster

Romano’s Macaroni Grill

The Cakery

VFW Post 1503 (café)

Project Mend-A-House serves low-income households, considered to by anyone who makes 50% or below the median income for Prince William County, which is about $90,000 per year. The organization also loans medical equipment like hospital beds, wheel chairs, stair climbers, and electronic medical alert tags that can wear rescue crews in the event of a personal emergency such as a slip or fall.

While the Potomac Health Foundation provides support for Project Mend-A-House, the Taste of the Town fundraising event allows residents to see what the organization is all about.

“The Taste of the Town is our signature event. It brings together so many aspects of the community, from the restaurants that attend to our supporters, it’s a great event,” said Project Mend-A-House Executive Director Jennifer Schock-Bolles. It’s $30 for a ticket to the event, and that comes with the ability to sample food from all vendors.

For $25, children will be allowed to enter a house building contest where they’ll use popsicle sticks and glue to build a themed, miniature house. The creations are judged for structural integrity, creativity, the fan favorite, and the winner gets a gift card,” said Schock-Bolles.

Earnestine Jenkins, of Dale City, is the chairwoman for the committee that organizes the event. Stella Nelson, whose life was saved by a medical alert device like the ones distributed by Project Mend-A-House, will be the keynote speaker.