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PLAINS TWP. — A December storm Tuesday didn’t stop more than 100 attendees from turning out to support area small businesses and raise money to fight childhood hunger.

The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce hosted its second annual Shop for a Cause event at the Woodlands Inn, showcasing roughly 25 small business and featuring a fashion show.

Sponsored by Vision Imaging of Kingston, Shop for a Cause is a collaboration between the Chamber and its women’s network, according to Chamber Director Lindsay Bezick.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Children Feeding Children and Dinners for Kids. Bezick said that she hoped to raise at least $2,000 at the event.

“Children Feeding Children is kind of a greenhouse initiative,” Bezick said. “They’re teaching children how to utilize planting seeds, how to grow their own food.

“And we’re trying to donate enough to purchase them a heater that they need for that.”

Vendors lined the perimeter of the Presidential Ballroom, speaking with customers and displaying racks of goods. As guests mingled from stand to stand, they learned about the history of the owners.

Another large part of the evening was a silent auction, featuring more than 40 baskets of gift certificates, home decor, spirits and more.

David Tevet, the owner of Ollie’s Restaurant in Edwardsville and founder of Dinners for Kids, looked over his notes as he talked about childhood hunger.

He said he began the charity six years ago as a way to try and solve childhood hunger by providing daily, healthy meals.

“When you think about what is a hungry child, a hungry child is a child that goes to sleep on an empty stomach,” he said. “Our solution to provide children with a healthy dinner, a nutritious and balanced dinner in a microwave-safe container accompanied by fresh food for everyday of the year.”

Children are referred to the organization through social services, school counselors and early education programs. Currently, Dinners for Kids aids children and their families within the Wyoming Valley West School District and the Dallas School District with the help of Misericordia University and Metz Culinary Management.

“Once the referral identifies one child, we feed all the children in the family,” he said.

Tevet said that the organization relies solely on grants and donations and uses only volunteers.

“Dinners for Kids is a program that has zero overhead,” he said. “The only thing we ask for is the applications for grants to cover the cost of the meals, nothing else.”

As guests were preparing to take their seats, Jenn Cronauer prepared to make her debut on the runway.

The program and communications director of Leadership Wilkes-Barre was asked to be one of the models in the evening’s fashion show, which featured vendor’s items that were available to purchase at the event.

Wearing a sparkling red sequined dress from LuLaRoe, Cronauer said that she was excited to walk in the show and show off her vendor’s pieces.

Cronauer’s outfit was courtesy of Ganella McCracken, an independent fashion consultant with LuLaRoe.

Across the room, Amy Feldman sat with her friends as the call for showtime was quickly approaching.

Dressed in a red top with a sequined accent on its sleeves and fleece-lined leggings, Feldman, of the Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind, said she believes the event will help local small business owners get their name out to a larger audience.

“It’s a great event for people to come out and network and to shop small businesses within the community,” she said.

Feldman was one of the models for Kathy Brocca, who owns the Women’s Boutique and Consignment in Mountain Top.

Brocca said she had three women modeling her fashions in the show. She decided that she wanted to incorporate some “holiday flair” for Feldman’s look, choosing the newly stocked red hand-dyed silk shirt and mixing it with consigned shoes and a bag.

PNC Bank employees Doris Romanowski and Alex Maniskas stop to look at assortments of chocolate from Sugar Plum Chocolates during ‘Shop for a Cause’ at the Woodlands Inn in Plains Township on Tuesday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_TTL1200716ShopforaCause1.jpg.optimal.jpgPNC Bank employees Doris Romanowski and Alex Maniskas stop to look at assortments of chocolate from Sugar Plum Chocolates during ‘Shop for a Cause’ at the Woodlands Inn in Plains Township on Tuesday. Sean McKeag | Times Leader

A shopper tries on a sterling silver bracelet from the NEPAGOLD jewelery table Tuesday night.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_TTL1200716ShopforaCause2.jpg.optimal.jpgA shopper tries on a sterling silver bracelet from the NEPAGOLD jewelery table Tuesday night. Sean McKeag | Times Leader

Meg van Genderen looks at purses.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_TTL1200716ShopforaCauseCMYK.jpg.optimal.jpgMeg van Genderen looks at purses. Sean McKeag | Times Leader
Event aims to help feed children

By Marcella Kester

For Times Leader

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