March 7 will mark the return of Taste of Sacred Heart to El Reno. More than 500 people will participate in a benefit for Sacred Heart Catholic School.
The program has gained in popularity and is El Reno’s major fundraising event for the school. The Taste of Sacred Heart will include food tasting booths, a $3,000 cash raffle, and live and silent auctions.
This year, music will be provided by the country music band, Jeremy Rowe, from Oklahoma City. Event goers will have the opportunity to purchase a raffle ticket to win their choice of four prizes – $3,000 cash, a trip to Key West, a trip to San Francisco and Wine Country or a trip to Boston.
According to Holly Eaton, “The Taste of Sacred Heart,” started in 1996 as a small school organized party auction. Pool parties, birthday parties and other activities for students were auctioned off to help raise money for the newly re-opened Catholic school.
The second principal, Lois Jeffrey, then fine-tuned the program by adding food-tasting booths. The early days of the program had about 100 people in attendance and raised about $10,000.
The program has grown to well over 500 in attendance and generates more than $100,000 to help the school.
The event will include 20-25 food booths operated by parishioners and volunteers, Knights of Columbus members, Catholic Daughters, the Altar Society and businesses. In addition, the classrooms host live auctions featuring quilts, planters and other items.
Charles Albert is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.