(Caloosa Belle/Danika J. Hopper) Whisper Creeks Red Hat Ladies hold an annual benefit luncheon to help local non-profits.

During the 11th Annual Red Hat Ladies Benefit Luncheon at Whisper Creek RV Resort, held last Wednesday, January 30, there were door prizes given away throughout the event, a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle, a delicious lunch, and a Bon Worth Fashion show. It was a fun event, filled with lots of smiles, jokes, and laughter. Several beautiful Red Hat Ladies stepped up as models for the fashion show and were all stunning in their Bon Worth ensembles. This benefit was thrown in support of two very important local organizations, Operation Backpack and the LaBelle VFW Auxiliary.

Operation Backpack is an organization that provides food every weekend for 400 students in LaBelle that are experiencing food insecurity. This project is solely funded by donations from businesses and individuals who want to help feed LaBelle’s hungry children. Linda O’Ferrell, Operation Backpack’s Secretary of Operations, spoke about the urgent need for more volunteers for packing and delivery of meals. She also said that each meal provided costs $5 per student. She shed tears of joy when it was announced that $947 was raised for her organization.

The LaBelle VFW Auxiliary’s Make a Difference to Veterans Program, that partners with the DAV and the American Legion, received $917 from the benefit luncheon. Chris Morris, President of the LaBelle VFW Auxillary, said, “We stand ready to help with any veteran’s financial needs.” She spoke of their Chaplain being an integral part of their organization. She makes regular visits to veterans in nursing homes and makes sure they receive greeting cards during every holiday. They also provided the nursing home residents with personalized military plaques last year. She thanked everyone for their continued support.

The Red Hat Ladies were beyond pleased that a record amount of money was raised during this year’s luncheon. The event ended with a Bon Worth shopping extravaganza, as the company offered discounts to luncheon attendees. The ladies flocked to the racks filled with the newest and most popular fashions.