by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
For the past 21 years a group of women have been volunteering their time to make a difference in the community. That group is The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary; the event is the Celebrity Chefs Luncheon.
The Women’s Auxiliary has hosted the Celebrity Chefs Luncheon since 1987 to raise money for The Salvation Army. Darleen Unger has been with the Women’s Auxiliary since it began 21 years ago.
“I brought the idea (of having a Celebrity Chefs Luncheon) to The Salvation Army,” said Unger. “They were doing something similar in Washington, D.C. and Seattle and the Auxiliary decided they would try it.”
That was 21 years ago, and the first luncheon was held at what is now the Wyndham Hotel on the Southbank.
“It has grown so much since then,” she said. “We have given well over $1 million to the Salvation Army.”
Each year the Women’s Auxiliary chooses what programs within The Salvation Army will receive the money that’s raised during the luncheon. This year’s contributions will go to the Child Development Center, Towers Memorial Social Services Center, the Adult Rehabilitation Center, The Salvation Army Senior Center and the Salvation Army Administrative Office.
“We make around $100,000 each year between the tickets, the plants that are sold, and the silent auction. We have over 400 (silent auction) items this time,” said Unger. “The first year we made $10,000 which we thought was a lot and now we are at $100,000 and that is a lot for a luncheon.”
Unger said there are 150 members of the Women’s Auxiliary and about 20 of them have participated all 21 years.
“It is wonderful to have so many of the women who were here since the beginning still with us,” said Unger.
Each year new celebrity chefs are chosen to be a part of the luncheon and Unger said she remembers when longtime television sports announcer and former Ponte Vedra resident Pat Summerall was a celebrity chef.
“At first he wasn’t sure if he wanted to do it and I told him ‘I will make you a promise that it will be a good time,’” she said. “After the event he came up to me and said ‘Darlene, you were right. I had a great time.’”
Each year there are usually about 15 booths that serve either appetizers, soups, salads, side dishes, entrees and desserts. Each chef can choose a recipe, but the food is actually made by local catering services: Catering by Liz, Anthony’s Gourmet Catering and Genesis Cafe and Catering, Inc.
“The best thing about it is the celebrity chefs have such a good time, we (Women’s Auxiliary) have a good time putting this on for our guests and our guests have a good time,” said Unger. “It is a win-win situation.”
Charlotte Drake, this year’s co-chair of the event with Karen Seals, said the focus for this year’s luncheon was to honor the military. An orchestra made up of senior citizens called “Recycles Orchestra” performed and members of the 146th Signal Battalion were this year’s special guests.
“We wanted them here so we can all say thank you,” she said.
Joe Zelenka of the Jacksonville Jaguars said he was happy to be a part of the event while he served cheese puffs to the guests.
“I am very excited to be here,” he said. “I’m serving cheese puffs, you can’t beat that. It is a great food for a Super Bowl party or a Jaguars tailgate party.”
Zelenka added that the luncheon is a great event for The Salvation Army.
“We are raising money to help them do what they need to do,” he said. “You see the bell ringers at Christmas, but they need help year-round.”
Unger said she continues to be a part of the Women’s Auxiliary because she knows how much The Salvation Army needs their help.
“That $100,000 a year makes it possible for them to do more with their programs,” she said. “It is very fulfilling.”