Dining in the Dark fund-raiser to be held at new Morgan House Sept. 18
A unique fund-raiser will be held Saturday, Sept. 18, at the new Morgan House in downtown Fort Myers to benefit the Visually Impaired Persons of Southwest Florida.
“The average person will be able to experience a fine meal in the dark,” said VIP’s Director of Operations Margaret Lincoln. By “dark,” she said, diners can opt to be blindfolded to experience what it is like to be visually impaired.
It is an evening diners won’t soon forget, organizers said. While it is unique, the concept isn’t completely new. It was tried recently in Wisconsin and was very successful, Lincoln said.
“We also have some wonderful sponsors who are supporting us and hope to make it an annual event.”
The VIP itself supports numerous local residents with visual impairments, providing services and education. Many specifically are from the North Fort Myers and Cape Coral area, and include the young and elderly.
Besides aiding with skills for daily living, the center has programs ranging from transition programs for teens to computer training.
The fund-raising event will actually be in two parts that evening. There is the dinner at the new Morgan House and an after-party featuring a popular local band outside in the Patio de Leon, a new downtown hot spot.
“The new location is just opening,” said VIP Director of Development Sheila Kelley. “They have fabulous cuisine. There will be dinner itself, or you can choose to just come to the after party.”
The band Cadence Wednesday will kick-off the after party which will begin at 8 p.m. “They are an extremely popular band,” said Kelley.
Tickets for the dinner are $100 and for just the after-party, $25.
“We try to help with different charity events,” said Morgan House General Manager Corry Blanton. “This (VIP) seemed like a very worthwhile charity.”
Blanton said the Morgan House has been in Fort Myers for over 15 years, but has only moved a week ago to a new location. It is located at 33 Patio de Leon. “We are having an Open House on Friday, Sept. 10, with free appetizers and champagne from 6 to 8 p.m.,” Blanton said. “We are now right across the street from our old location, between Main and First streets.”
They will now have both rooftop and outdoor dining, and staff is looking forward to having the event there.
For information or reservations for the event, call VIP at 810-5700. For information on North Fort Myers-based VIP, which is located at 35 W. Mariana Ave., go to vipcenter.org or call 997-7797.