SCNA’s Porch Picnic fundraiser on Oct. 10 was by all accounts a huge hit, raising about $18,000 toward the upkeep and expenses of the Sierra 2 Center, with 195 households participating.
The fundraiser was an alternative to the annual Curtis Park Wine Tasting & Silent Auction, which could not be held due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions.
Proceeds will go toward the upkeep and expenses of Sierra 2 while it remains closed. This was made possible by generous neighbors who willingly embraced a new way of celebrating together, even though it was necessary to stay apart.
SCNA’s Development Committee – including Chair Erik Fay, and members Kathy Les, Gerre Buehler, Bill French, Martin Pierucci and Susan French – considered several ideas before settling on the Porch Picnic concept.
Photo credit Tom Erickson, Marshall Way.
Gerre, who has been in charge of Viewpoint circulation for most of its history, recruited the Porch Picnic volunteer delivery teams and planned all routes.
Around the neighborhood, Porch Picnics were held on porches, on tables set up in front yards, and even in backyards. Some joined with other neighbors in small clusters, some dined with family and some simply enjoyed a quiet Saturday evening alone.
“Although we missed seeing many of our fabulous friends and neighbors at the Sierra 2 Center for the annual Wine Tasting, we were still able to enjoy local food, wine, music and our own good company at our dining room table overlooking our porch.”
said James Ozanich of Marshall Way
Considering the logistics of eight restaurants supplying meals for delivery by 18 teams of volunteers to 195 households, the event committee breathed a sigh of relief when it was over.
Picnic dinners were delivered in time for picnickers to eat while enjoying live-streamed music performed by The Undulations and Doug & the Cover Girls.
Participating restaurants were Paragary’s, Taylor’s Kitchen, Hop Gardens Pizza, Revolution Café, Urban Roots Brewery & Smokehouse, Sampino’s Kitchen, Vallejo’s and Pangaea Bier Café.
Restaurants local to Curtis Park were chosen with each charging market rate for the dinners to help offset the restaurants’ revenue losses during COVID-19 closures.
Beer by Campus Brewing and an autumn-themed art project complemented the dinner festivities made possible by Cara Gregor, the Byram family and Fran Coletti.
Sierra 2 Executive Director Terri Shettle and staff members Heather Hogan, Katie Byram and Valerie Burrows also helped.