Sequins and silent auctions are headed to downtown Charleston next week, and Daniel Island businesses are being invited to join the party. The Lowcountry Senior Network will host its 10th annual Hollywood Glam Gala on Nov. 6 at The Cedar Room, with the money going to help feed homebound seniors.
The gala is set for The Cedar Room in Charleston, according to the Lowcountry Senior Network, and will feature a silent auction, live entertainment and ways for community members and businesses to support local seniors. Proceeds will benefit programs through the network and Meals on Wheels of Charleston. The network also lays out sponsorship perks, including a logo on its website and “premier sponsor” billing on marketing materials.
The Daniel Island angle comes from The Daniel Island News, which reports that gala committee member and Daniel Island resident Karen Delcioppo hopes island businesses will contribute gift cards or auction items. A potential auction package could feature local Daniel Island establishments, the paper reports. Delcioppo said her goal is to highlight those businesses, and that donated items would be appreciated.
From Holiday Party to Hollywood Theme
The event began modestly, per the same report. Delcioppo said the original fundraiser started as a member holiday party where guests were asked to bring non-perishable items for Meals on Wheels. Organizers introduced $55 tickets the following year, and one couple’s $110 paid for a client’s month of meals at the time.
An earlier account from Charleston Area Senior Citizens shows how that grew. The 2019 Holiday Harvest Gala raised $13,000 for Meals on Wheels with live music, an open bar, a raffle and a silent auction. In February 2020, the group said the network had raised and donated more than $56,000 over four years.
The Daniel Island News adds that Delcioppo said organizers are excited to dress in sequins and glitter for the fundraiser. The network's members work in fields such as home health, senior care, transportation and estate planning.
Why the Waitlist Matters
Meals on Wheels of Charleston is a Charleston Area Senior Citizens program that delivers meals to homebound seniors, per the newspaper. The service provides more than a meal, as the organization's own account describes: it also offers a friendly visit and a safety check for seniors living independently. Daniel Island's paper reports that the waiting list has grown from 100 during the pandemic to more than 400.
Donna Cook, executive director of Charleston Area Senior Citizens and Ansonborough House, said gala funds allow high-risk clients on the waitlist to receive service sooner, according to the paper. The report also notes that many clients live on roughly $1,000 a month and struggle to afford food, housing and medications.
Cook described one elderly man who was discovered days after falling through the rotting floor of his home, the paper reports. The organization provided him housing, meal services and case management, and he spent his final years in a safe environment.
How Islanders Can Pitch In
Residents do not have to attend to help. The Daniel Island News reports that they can bid online before the event, donate without attending, or volunteer to deliver meals. Businesses that want to donate an auction item can email Delcioppo at [email protected] to arrange pickup, and more event details are posted at lowcountrysn.com/event.
The gala itself is planned as an evening of catered food, an open bar, raffles, an online silent auction and live music, according to the same report. Whether the sequins translate into enough meals to shrink that waitlist will come down to how many neighbors, island businesses included, show up and open their wallets.
