GRAND FORKS — Love in Action, a Grand Forks faith-based nonprofit, will host its fourth annual high tea and fashion show Saturday, March 21.
“It’s ‘Fashion Through the Decades,’ from the 1920s through the 1980s,” said Everett C. Jones Sr., executive director of Love in Action. “It’s a formalwear event, and you can dress in whatever era of fashion that you choose, as long as it’s high tea themed.”
Diane Volden, a volunteer who came up with idea for the event and continues to organize it along with a small committee, said fancy hat rentals will be available for $5.
“(If you don’t have anything vintage,) dress nice and think about what kind of hat would go nice with what you’re wearing,” Volden said.
The event will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church, located at 700 24th Ave. S. in Grand Forks. Its one of Love in Action’s largest fundraising efforts of the year.
Proceeds will help support the organization’s free hot meal service, which is available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Monday through Thursday, at 818 University Ave.
Love in Action’s unpaid staff, including Volden, prepare and serve food to approximately 125 people each day.
“These are our guests, and we do try to treat them with dignity,” she said. “Sometimes they don’t have much to hold on to, so their tempers are short.”
Staff make a point to be tolerant, and receive ongoing training regarding how to treat someone in a vulnerable situation, allowing them to express themselves while managing the situation, hopefully helping people ultimately feel better about themselves.
Tickets for the high tea event, available through the Eventbrite website, are $35 per person or $280 for a table with eight seats. Purchasing a table allows the attendee to decorate it to match the theme.
Out of 200 seats, approximately 50 remained open as of early Friday afternoon, according to Volden. The deadline to purchase tickets is Friday night, March 20.
Doors open at 12:30 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church on the day of the event, allowing attendees to peruse silent auction items. Items will also be available for viewing and bidding online Friday, March 20, and the auction will close online Sunday, March 22.
Items vary from art pieces to event tickets; many are curated into themed boxes like “date night” and “pastas and more.” Some of the donors include Three Farm Daughters, Rhapsody Salon and Spa, Billie’s Soaps, Pizza Ranch, Speedway, Blue Goods and Rydell.
The high tea event honors Women’s History Month, and features finger foods, tea, conversation, music, a presentation and fashion show. Fashion show models will include recent North Dakota and Minnesota pageant winners, as well as community members who are knowledgeable about vintage fashion.
“It’ll be a nice event,” Jones said. “It’s just a nice afternoon for ladies to come out and enjoy each other’s company, and have tea and crumpets and things like that.”
