by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
Jordan Boss’ Halloween party isn’t a traditional Halloween bash. Her party consists of getting together with friends and cooking for about 500 people at the I.M. Sulzbacher Center.
Boss, who previously worked at the Center and is now at the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art, is hosting her second annual Halloween party at the Center. On her invitations she sent out to friends it said, “2nd Annual Halloween dinner, but you don’t get to eat.” Boss and her friends will begin cooking at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and dinner will be served to the Center’s guests at 6 p.m.
“Last year my husband and I held the party just for fun when I was working at the Center,” she said. “It is great enjoyment to cook for 500 people.”
Many of her friends had never been to the Center before, and Boss and her husband thought it would be a great way to get them there and see what the Center does for the homeless in Jacksonville.
“My husband and I talked about having a Halloween party and instead of giving them our (home) address we gave them the Center’s address,” she said.
Boss said she was getting calls from her friends asking if the Halloween party at the Center was taking place again this year. About 20 people are planning to attend this year’s party.
Last year’s party was a real eye opener for her friends, said Boss.
“Like many other people, they didn’t realize so many children are homeless,” she said.
Boss said she also gave her friends a tour of the Center after dinner.
“It helped them understand even more why the Center is so special to me,” she said. “My friends became more involved in the Center after last year.”
Even though Boss is working at JMOMA, she told her colleagues at the Center that she would be back to visit as often as possible.
“I called Kevin Nacke (director of food services at the Center) about having the Halloween dinner again,” she said. “He already had me penciled in for Halloween.”
Boss has been working with Nacke to come up with the menu for the evening. Last year everything on the menu was orange. Boss said they had chicken in hot wing sauce, macaroni and cheese, salad with French dressing, sweet potatoes and brownies for dessert.
Boss said she has been hearing from her friends that the costumes they are wearing may be a little more elaborate compared to last year.
“The kids love it (the costumes). It is so much fun for them,” she said. “Last year the children had Halloween costumes, too, because of a wonderful donor.”
Boss is looking forward to hosting the party again, but she is also excited to see her colleagues and the guests again.
“It (the Center) is where my heart is,” she said. “It is wonderful to see everyone again and see the changes that have been made.”
Boss said this will be a regular event each year for Halloween and maybe it will grow into a couple times a year.
“I am just happy there is the interest from my friends,” she said.