JAMES CITY COUNTY — Grove Christian Outreach Center’s Roaring Twenties Gala, held on Nov. 2, brought the community together for an evening filled with glamour, giving and goodwill.
Hosted at the Colonial Heritage Club, the fundraising event celebrated the Center’s 20th anniversary and raised over $74,000 to support its mission to provide food, clothing and financial assistance to those in need.
According to the organization, the Roaring ’20s-themed celebration invited attendees to step back in time to the Jazz Age, with vintage décor, flapper-inspired fashion and a live performance by the popular swing band, Good Shot Judy.
Guests enjoyed dinner and joined in a paddle raise to contribute additional funds toward Grove Christian Outreach Center’s programs.
The center, which started primarily as a food pantry operating out of a mobile home facility, has evolved over the last 20 years to also include services such as food delivery programs for household seniors, school supply drives for local families and holiday programs.
Thanks to the community’s support, a total of 31,901 people were served through the center’s various programs in 2023 alone, and the number of families served in 2024 already exceeds the 2023 figures.
“We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming generosity displayed by our community at this event and throughout the year,” said Alexis Johnson, Committee Chairwoman for the Roaring Twenties Gala. “Every dollar we raised will have a meaningful impact on the lives served by the center.”
The success of the Roaring Twenties Gala underscores the community’s enduring support and commitment to the Center’s mission, it said.
“Food is more than just nourishment for our neighbors,” said Katie Patrick, Executive Director of Grove Christian Outreach Center. “Food is love in its most essential form. Every dollar raised at this event, over the last two decades, and in the years to come, helps empower families, strengthen community and show love.”
For more information on Grove Christian Outreach Center, visit groveoutreach.com.
