Press releases

Yacht & Country Club ladies gather
gifts for House of Hope

PRESS RELEASE DATE: DECEMBER 12, 2011

Thanks to creative and bountiful efforts, residents of the Yacht & Country Club of Stuart recently presented House of Hope with $2,425 and more than a ton of food.

The Ladies of the Yacht & Country Club of Stuart held their annual Christmas Charity Card Party on Dec. 3 to raise money for local charities. House of Hope’s share was $1,425. “We hope this contribution of support to the House of Hope will help you continue the wonderful work you do in our community,” wrote the event’s co-chairwomen, Peg Wagner and Joan Fitzgerald.

That event was followed up on Dec. 5, when Linda Tigani hosted an annual open house for the Ladies of the Yacht & Country Club. Residents flocked to her home in cars and golf carts with bags and boxes full of food items to donate to House of Hope. Many stayed for a wine-and-appetizer party, while neighborhood Santas loaded all the donated food into a large trailer, courtesy of John Brutban. The next day, they delivered the food to House of Hope, and it weighed in at 3,076 pounds – the equivalent of about 2,400 meals.

Mrs. Tigani shared the hostess duties with Marie Bryan, Judy Cleaver, Donna Haines, Anne Metcalfe, Joan Powers and Joan Wormwood.

Also that evening, the eight members of the Monday Night Bridge Group in YCC presented a check for $1,000 to House of Hope. The story behind the check provides a simple and heartwarming example for people who hold similar friendly gatherings: Each Monday night, the eight ladies get together to play bridge. At the start of the evening, each woman puts $2 into the pot; at the end, the winner receives $2. The remainder is put aside for House of Hope. At the end of the year, it adds up to a wonderful Christmastime donation for the agency, which provides food and financial assistance to Martin County residents in need.

The regular participants of the Monday Night Bridge Group are Joan Fitzgerald, Ginny Burnett, Judy Palmer, Peg Wagner, Jean Fedele, Cynthia Hinkelman, Mary Ann Peterson and Doni Haas.

In addition to this outpouring of holiday spirit, YCC residents support House of Hope year-round in many ways. Regular food collections brought in more about 1,110 pounds of food throughout the year; many residents volunteer regularly for the House of Hope food pantry, thrift store and/or special events; and residents support the organization through financial donations and event participation.

House of Hope is a nonprofit agency that provides food, clothing, case management and financial assistance to Martin County people in need. The agency is Martin County’s largest provider of food to the hungry, and serves as a safety net for hundreds of families, working people and senior citizens who are struggling through hard times.

For more information about House of Hope, call (772) 286-4673 or visit www.hohmartin.org.