The Neighborhood at Tellico Village, along with Cades Cove Cellars, held its first benefit wine tasting Friday evening, which raised $2,000 for Alzheimer’s Tennessee through ticket sales, a silent auction and donations.
“A few months ago I got the idea to do something different,” Marti Hands, community relations director at The Neighborhood, said.
Friday’s dinner was planned to compliment other fundraising activities for The Neighborhood, an assisted living facility that offers memory care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients as well as short-term stays and adult day programs.
In addition to the dinner, The Neighborhood will participate in the Foothills Alzheimer’s WALK April 29 at Maryville College.
Five different courses, including mixed greens with pear and blue cheese, curried butternut soup, pork sausage with barbecue, beef burgundy and chocolate decadence with raspberry sauce were paired with five different wines from Cades Cove Cellars — Abrams Falls, Laurel Blush, Fall County, Cabernet Sauvingon and Raspberry Wine.
Community health partners from Alzheimer’s Tennessee, Camellia Healthcare, Caris Healthcare and East Tennessee Personal Care helped serve attendees throughout the evening.
Cameran and John Birkholz, owners of Cades Cove Cellars in Townsend, explained each of the different wine pairings offered.
Tellico Village resident Peg Tatum attended the event with a friend because of losing relatives to Alzheimer’s in years past.
“I love The Neighborhood too,” Tatum said. “I always contribute to Alzheimer’s. We don’t have a hospital here, so this is great that we have this here.”
Tatum is currently on the waiting list for The Neighborhood, according to Hands.
Ticket were sold for $50 per person and $90 per couple, with gift baskets available for bidding, including a pampering basket, a couple wine baskets with chocolate and a spaghetti dinner basket.
Hands distributed monthly flyers to 3,900 homes and promoted it on Channel 193.
Four tables were set up in The Neighborhood’s activity room for residents to enjoy the evening and fellowship together.
Linda Johnson, director of programs at Alzheimer’s Tennessee, thanked attendees for their support and explained how they help families who are unable to afford services by working alongside companies like Caris Healthcare and helping purchase Ensure for patients.
Discussions have already taken place regarding holding a similar event, due to its “huge success,” according to Hands.
