From the Walton Sun:
Local chef begins major fundraiser for Katrina victims
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August 31, 2005
By Deborah Wheeler
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Local chef begins major fundraiser for Katrina victims
By DEBORAH WHEELER
Sun Reporter
The South Walton community and surrounding areas were able to breathe a sigh of relief as Hurricane Katrina bypassed the area.
However, as all sat glued to their TV sets watching the devastation in New Orleans and Mississippi, sadness permeated the relief that was felt. All realized that it could have hit here.
As the American Red Cross begins its largest disaster relief effort in the United States ever, many people are searching for ways to help those in Mississippi and Louisiana.
Grayton Beach Chef Doug Alley and his wife, Patti, owners of Fancy Tomato Catering, decided the best way to help is to make an organized effort. The Alleys are spearheading a major fund-raising drive, which they hope will raise $100,000 to be donated to the Red Cross.
?So many people in Mississippi and Louisiana have homes here and come here on vacation and spend money here,? said Doug. ?A lot of our customers and brides come from there. I want to give back to those who have given to us.
?Derek, the former chef of Basmati?s, who used to work for me, was in Gulf Port, Miss., and he is missing. But even if I didn?t know anyone over there, I would still spearhead this. It still affects you on a personal level as a human being. It?s the heart giving back to the soul. This will effect all of us for a long time to come.?
A chef who currently works for Alley has eight people living in his home now. Six of those are refugees from Katrina?s devastation. One of those is an artist who had a gallery near the French Quarter in New Orleans. He lost everything. The artist will be donating the artwork for the benefit.
Although still in the planning stages, Alley wants the benefit to be at Eden State Gardens.
?I want it to be a community thing, not a company thing or a 30A thing, but a whole community thing, neighbors reaching out to neighbors. This is not a personal self-promotion thing, but an opportunity for the whole community to come together for one cause to raise money,? he said.
While Alley is just beginning to make phone calls around the community, he envisions the event having auctions, bands, food (which he is willing to supply) and a gala dinner.
?I want to recruit as many people as possible to help with this effort, whether through underwriting some aspect of it or volunteering their time. My entire staff will be donating its time,? said Alley.
Alley hopes to have the event in two to three weeks. He asks that anyone who would like to get involved, please call him at (850) 231-0022 or Patti at (850) 685-0344.
Local chef begins major fundraiser for Katrina victims
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 31, 2005
By Deborah Wheeler
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local chef begins major fundraiser for Katrina victims
By DEBORAH WHEELER
Sun Reporter
The South Walton community and surrounding areas were able to breathe a sigh of relief as Hurricane Katrina bypassed the area.
However, as all sat glued to their TV sets watching the devastation in New Orleans and Mississippi, sadness permeated the relief that was felt. All realized that it could have hit here.
As the American Red Cross begins its largest disaster relief effort in the United States ever, many people are searching for ways to help those in Mississippi and Louisiana.
Grayton Beach Chef Doug Alley and his wife, Patti, owners of Fancy Tomato Catering, decided the best way to help is to make an organized effort. The Alleys are spearheading a major fund-raising drive, which they hope will raise $100,000 to be donated to the Red Cross.
?So many people in Mississippi and Louisiana have homes here and come here on vacation and spend money here,? said Doug. ?A lot of our customers and brides come from there. I want to give back to those who have given to us.
?Derek, the former chef of Basmati?s, who used to work for me, was in Gulf Port, Miss., and he is missing. But even if I didn?t know anyone over there, I would still spearhead this. It still affects you on a personal level as a human being. It?s the heart giving back to the soul. This will effect all of us for a long time to come.?
A chef who currently works for Alley has eight people living in his home now. Six of those are refugees from Katrina?s devastation. One of those is an artist who had a gallery near the French Quarter in New Orleans. He lost everything. The artist will be donating the artwork for the benefit.
Although still in the planning stages, Alley wants the benefit to be at Eden State Gardens.
?I want it to be a community thing, not a company thing or a 30A thing, but a whole community thing, neighbors reaching out to neighbors. This is not a personal self-promotion thing, but an opportunity for the whole community to come together for one cause to raise money,? he said.
While Alley is just beginning to make phone calls around the community, he envisions the event having auctions, bands, food (which he is willing to supply) and a gala dinner.
?I want to recruit as many people as possible to help with this effort, whether through underwriting some aspect of it or volunteering their time. My entire staff will be donating its time,? said Alley.
Alley hopes to have the event in two to three weeks. He asks that anyone who would like to get involved, please call him at (850) 231-0022 or Patti at (850) 685-0344.
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