VIP Dining In The Dark event a unique dining experience
Sighted participants at the Visually Impaired Persons of Southwest Florida Dining in the Dark event will have a unique experience. They will experience a meal as they likely never have before – without their sight.
The goal is to expand understanding of what blind or visually impaired individuals deal with every day. The event will also raise funds to continue to provide blind and visually impaired persons living in Southwest Florida with the tools, support and opportunity to live independent lives, said officials.
This 2nd Annual Dining in the Dark event will be held Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Harborside Event Center. The first such event last year was held at a downtown restaurant, but that sold out at 100 seats, said VIP Director of Operations Margaret Ruhe Lincoln. The Event Center can hold 200.
“A lot of the folks that attended last year are coming back. That shows their support of the VIP and the fact they had fun last year,” she said.
Fun is also a goal, as well as participating in what could be an empathetic experience.
“We have a silent auction to start the evening, with an opportunity for a glass of wine or soda, and wonderful items that have been donated by local businesses,” Lincoln said. “Items include a stay at the Mariana Village at Tarpon Point, a weekend at DiamondHead Beach Resort, a spa package from Cre8 Salon & Spa in Cape Coral and raffle tickets will be sold for for a 3-day 2-night Carnival Cruise.”
Local donations include those from North Fort Myers Larry’s Pawn Shop, with owner Martin Debruyn donating blue diamond earrings (.90 tcw) and Lt. Chris Reeves of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office donating a week at his cabin in north Georgia.
“We also will have artwork from our clients they have donated through art instructor and board member Freda VanPelt and her group.”
If you have visited the local center, which is located at 35 W. Mariana Ave. in North Fort Myers, you can experience how talented those artists really are from their work adorning most walls.
“There is also a donated box of cigars from the Cigar Bar, that will host an after party after the event,” she said.
Entertainment will be by the popular Deb & The Dynamics.
In the dining experience itself, besides learning with instruction from staff on what visually impaired persons experience at a typical meal out, officials said blindfolded guests will also truly savor the taste of their food, that aromas will come alive and conversations will become more intimate as they recognize friends only by their voice.
VIP marketing representative Sandra Martin, who is visually impaired, said she thinks the event was “absolutely great” last year.
“It gave a lot of great information on what it is like to be visually impaired,” she said. In dining out “it’s everything from cutting your bread to drinking wine. I remember when I lost my eyesight. I remember being afraid to eat out.”
She lost her sight in 1983, six weeks after she had a baby.
“It (the event) makes people aware and gives the visually impaired persons their confidence. I’m a big believer in confidence.”
“Dining in the Dark is a great fund-raiser that lets you literally walk into the lives of individuals that we serve,” said VIP Community Relations Coordinator Allison Spencer.
“After the silent auction, we will bring them (diners) into the big room, where blindfolds will be at their place setting, and they will be asked to put them on. Before they put them on, we will ask them to memorize where their plates, silverware etc. is located.”
Staff will be working with individuals, on everything from how to locate items on their plate, to how to cut their meat and handle their wine glass, not to spill on their neighbor.
“Last year they (participants) learned in a very small way what it is like to be visually impaired or blind. They took it very seriously, and comments were that they were so grateful to have the opportunity and learned a tremendous amount about themselves,” said Lincoln.
The chairperson of the event is Rachelle Youmans, director of marketing and business development for GATES Construction and VIP board member. “She has done a remarkable job, along with our other board members have sold out our sponsorship opportunities,” Lincoln said.
“One of our sponsorships, called Ala Carte Angels, allows individuals to purchase tickets for a program client who cannot afford to go. They have 26 so far,” she said.
Tickets are $125 and include complimentary wine, a three course dinner and dancing afterwards.
You can purchase tickets on the VIP website or by calling 997-7797.
At the center, VIP staff and volunteers provide a variety of rehabilitation and support services to people and their families experiencing major vision loss and blindness. The center serves all Lee, Hendry and Glades counties.
“Many of the clients are from the local area, 65 percent from North Fort Myers and Cape Coral, and the number of Lehigh clients is growing,” Lincoln said.
“We also just received our five-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Council for Blind and Low Vision Services. Five years is the maximum they award – we had a three-year before, so this shows the agency is really growing, with a wonderful board that provides governance for us and relative to NAC, shows that they have confidence in our ability to provide exemplary services.”
Sponsors of the event include GATES Construction, Eye Associates of Southwest Florida, Marquis Wealth Management, Meyers Brettholtz & Company, Retina Consultants, Ruth Messmer Florist, Schlager, Schlager & Levin, Snead Cataract, Stephen Laquis MD, Southwest Florida Optometric Association and Henderson Franklin Attorneys at Law.
For more information go to vipcenter.org or call 997-7797.