Wheels for Wellness is gearing up for Tablescapes, one of the most unique fundraisers to be found in the Northern Shenandoah Valley.
“It’s kind of hard to describe to people and you kind of get a blank stare when you’re describing it,” said Traci Toth, executive director of the nonprofit Wheels for Wellness in Winchester.
Tablescapes, which will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. April 19 at the Millwood Station Banquet Hall, is kind of a showcase, kind of a competition and kind of an artistic challenge for designers.
“What we do is invite collectors and decorators and businesses and just some of us that collect china and like to do this kind of thing,” Toth said. “We set up 25 dinner tables and each one of those tables is decorated. Some of them are just way over the top and really creative, and some of them have family heirlooms or antiques. It’s really up to each individual how they want to do it.”
The table settings to be displayed rival those you would find at top-dollar restaurants in major cities like New York or London. While spectators may be tempted to sit down and order dinner, they would be wasting their time because Tablescapes is all about the presentation, not the food. However, refreshments donated by local restaurants, church groups and individuals will be available.
“Everybody’s got a story behind their table and they love to mingle and talk with everyone,” Toth said. “We also do demonstrations like floral arranging and napkin folding. Everything has to do with entertaining.
“This is what our passion is,” she continued, “and it’s grown into this huge fundraiser. … We net about $25,000 to $28,000 each year.”
Toth said the first Tablescapes was held in 2015 after a member of Wheels for Wellness’ board of directors heard about a similar event in another locality.
“There are so many nonprofits around here, it’s really hard to come up with something that doesn’t step on somebody else’s toes,” Toth said. “ Everybody does a golf tournament and everybody does a cash party. This is completely different than anything than anybody else does.”
The first year featured just 12 tables and was held at the George Washington Hotel in downtown Winchester. The event quickly grew in popularity and size, necessitating the move to the Millwood Station Banquet Hall at 252 Costello Drive near Winchester.
“We’ve gone from a really small crowd to about 275 guests [per year],” Toth said.
This year’s Tablescapes will be the tenth because the fundraiser was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tablescapes raises money for Wheels for Wellness via ticket sales, sponsorships, a silent auction, a raffle and a cash wine bar.
“This year, we’re adding a 50-50 drawing,” Toth noted.
At the end of next month’s Tablescapes, two awards will be presented to the designers, Toth said.
“We do a Decorator’s Choice award where the decorators themselves vote for the best table, and then we do a People’s Choice award,” Toth said. “For the People’s Choice, the guests vote by dollars. Each vote is a dollar and the table that raises the most money wins the prize.”
As of Wednesday, Toth said there was still one table available for an aspiring decorator. If you’re interested in creating a display, call 540-536-1006 or stop by the Wheels for Wellness office at 301 N. Cameron St. in Winchester.
All money collected at Tablescapes benefits Wheels for Wellness, whose volunteers provide free transportation to non-emergency medical and dental appointments and treatments for people who have no other means of travel. The agency, which was formerly known as Faith in Action, was founded in 2004 and serves Winchester and Frederick, Clarke and Warren counties, as well as the northern portion of Shenandoah County.
“We do about 4,000 transports a year,” Toth said. “About 64% of our clients are going to dialysis.”
Tickets to Tablescapes are $25 each and can be purchased in advance at https://bit.ly/4lRS5U4.
To learn more about Wheels for Wellness and this year’s Tablescapes fundraiser, visit wheels4wellness.org.
