Florida Catholic | Wine Tasting Benefits Our Mother’s House

Wine tasting benefits Our Mother’s House

BOB REDDY | FLORIDA CATHOLIC VENICE BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 03.14.08

BOB REDDY | FC
Jeanne Kavanuagh, volunteer event coordinator for Our Mother's House Seventh Annual Wine Tasting event poses for a photograph with Peter Roustis-Arroyo, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Venice.

Elizabeth Gibbons, Catholic Charities Volunteer Child Care Coordinator for Our Mother’s House, Rita Miller, a case worker for Our Mother's House, and Joyce Scott, program director for Our Mother’s House, pose for a photograph during the Seventh Annual Wine Tasting.

BOB REDDY | FC
Elizabeth Gibbons, Catholic Charities Volunteer Child Care Coordinator for Our Mother’s House, Rita Miller, a case worker for Our Mother's House, and Joyce Scott, program director for Our Mother’s House, pose for a photograph during the Seventh Annual Wine Tasting.

VENICE | Helping troubled mothers and their babies get a step up toward a brighter future was the goal of the seventh annual Our Mother’s House wine tasting Feb. 28 at Plantation Golf and Country Club.

The event, which included three auctions, a sit-down dinner and a little education about the program was a huge success, said Joyce Scott, program director for Our Mother’s House.

Our Mother’s House is a program of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice Inc. Its mission is to provide a safe and secure environment in which residents can achieve increased self-sufficiency through education, vocational training and personal growth. Funds raised will help both the mothers and the program attain this goal. In 21 years, 170 women have been helped, Scott said.

The wine-tasting benefit helps ensure that the residents receive the education and self-sufficiency they need.

The highlight of the evening was when one mother, named Krystie, told the crowd about how much her life has changed because of her stay at Our Mother’s House.

Jeanne Kavanaugh, who served as the volunteer event coordinator, said she gets so much out of volunteering for Our Mothers House, much more than she ever expected.

“Because I have been blessed, it was time for me to give back to the community,” Kavanaugh said.

Trudy Williamson, a volunteer at the event and at the house, said the best part of being there is seeing when a mother and her child leave.

“They aren’t the same when they leave,” she said. “They are stronger.”

Peter Roustis-Arroyo, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Venice, announced at the event that there are plans for the Diocese of Venice to open a new Our Mother’s House in Englewood, at a former monastery.

The facility needs renovation and upgrading, but will serve a need in the community, Scott said.

“We get calls every day of people wanting help.”

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