Odessa's classy social event of the year is coming May 3

It has been a busy winter and spring for the members of the Odessa Healthcare Foundation and the FBLA Partnership With Business team. This is the second year the Healthcare Foundation has partnered with FBLA. The Foundation explained to the students how a non-profit organization works and what the proceeds from the annual auction have purchased for the Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center. In turn, the Partnership for Business team has increased the Foundation’s social media presence by creating a website (separate from the auction website), an Instagram page and a newsletter.

Check out our new website at http://www.odessahealthcarefoundation.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Our new website features photos of past wine tastings, projects sponsored, equipment purchased, past scholarship winners and a link to http://omhf.maestroweb.com where you can purchase tickets and register your credit card for the 28th Annual Wine Tasting, Microbrew Sampling and Auction, to be held Friday, May 3, 2019, at the Odessa Community Center.

Tickets are $20. By purchasing tickets online, you avoid the long line at the front of the community center, enter the east door, and have a speedy checkout at the end of the evening. At http://omhf.maestroweb.com, use the tab called “RSVP TICKETS” and fill out the form. Contact Nancy Floether or Danielle Scrupps if you need assistance. We recommend using a computer, not a mobile device. Remember, on-line ticket sales close Monday, April 22, at 5 p.m. Paper tickets will be available at Odessa Drug, the front desk of the hospital or at the door the night of the event.

The Odessa Healthcare Foundation appreciates the many donations from the businesses of Odessa and the surrounding area, the employees of the Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center, as well as our families and friends.

Once again, many individuals have generously agreed to share their talents by donating handcrafted items. This is by no means a complete list, but a sampling of what you will find at the auction.

The Schafer Family of Rocky Coulee Brewing Company will again provide beer for sampling and purchase by the glass. We also have an etched glass decanter and glasses donated by Odessa Designs, a gift certificate for a case of sausage from Voise Sausage by Summers and metalwork from Mike Kuest of Silhouettes by Request.

Bidders can get their chocolate fix at the always-popular dessert auction. It will feature a Gluten-free Poke Cake from Lecia Fink, Gourmet Layered Brownies by Diana Finkbeiner, a Baileys and Chocolate Trifle from Ellen Holman, a Rhubarb Pie from Charlene Kagele’s kitchen, Maria Manley’s Chocolate Coconut Cheesecake, Gourmet Cupcakes from Kerry Scheller, a Cast-iron Skillet Apple Pie by Brian Schorzman, an Oreo Cheesecake from Jean Starkel’s kitchen, Fruit Pizza from Haley Wagner, Deb Walter’s Coconut Cake and Deborah Walter’s Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake. You can either share the dessert with your table that night or take it home with you to enjoy the next day.

We have other food items, which will go home with the highest bidder. For those candy lovers, look for Pat Estes’s Fabulous Fudge, Peanut Brittle by Linda Kuch and Almond Roca by Corrine Schuh. Or maybe you would prefer Grannie BarBar’s baked goods or Terri King’s orange rolls or Willie Bell’s OMG Chocolate Chip Cookies. If you are looking for someone to prepare a smoked chicken dinner for you, look for the gift certificate from Stephen and Barbara Walter.

We have some wonderful woodworkers who have been busy in their workshops. Odessa High School ag shop students Jordan Larmer and Naomi Smith are donating a butcher-block coffee table. Jim and Lora Zimprich have repurposed wooden slates into a Welcome sign and Sheena Starkel has created a repurposed coffee table. Keith and Becky Kolterman have been busy with barn wood and wine bottle corks. Mandi Braun and Tracy Walter have created a decorative piece with a rustic-farmhouse-vintage-European-cottage look perfect for hanging on a wall or fireplace mantel.

The talented quilters have also been busy creating many treasures. Fronen Steppdecker, the Odessa Quilt Club, has donated a “Daisy Trellis” table runner pieced by quilt club members and machine quilted by Shelley Sieverkropp of Wheatridge Studios. Alva Richardson has designed, pieced and hand-quilted a scrappy log cabin lap throw with a fleece backing. Becky Kolterman has stitched up a U of W fleece blanket. Laura’s Sage Country Quilts has donated a Ruched Blossom Bouquet. Laura Estes and Sharon Parr have teamed up and created Christmas candle mats.

Many more surprises await the bidders. The Odessa High School FFA chapter will donate something from the greenhouse. Roger Hochstetler has donated a carbon-steel hunting knife handcrafted by Scott J. Brown. Other surprises will come from Experience Quilts!, Farmer’s Daughter Photography, Marilyn and Lecia Fink, Nancy Floether, Clarene Haynie, Kayli Smith Maier Photography, Lise Ott, and Vivianne Poe.

The Odessa Healthcare Foundation greatly appreciates the donation of all these items and knows many of the attendees look forward to bidding on them. Remember, tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at http://omhf.maestroweb.com.

We look forward to seeing all you Friday, May 3, 2019, at the Odessa Community Center!