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Hospitality House Presents the 2nd Annual ‘Struttin’ Our Stuff’ Fashion Show on May 9 at Meadowbrook Inn

by Madison V. Fisler

May 7, 2013. On Thursday, May 9, Hospitality House and Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina will team up to host the second annual “Struttin’ Our Stuff” Fashion Show. The show, held from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. at the Meadowbrook Inn in Blowing Rock, will showcase looks and outfits from the fashions at the local Goodwill locations in Boone and West Jefferson. 

At their first fashion show last year, the event raised $5,000 for Hospitality House, which offers emergency shelter, transition and family housing, permanent supportive housing, a community kitchen, food box programs and more for people in need in the community. This event does more than just raise money for the organization, it also raises awareness for what many people in our community face on a daily basis. 

“I thought the first year was perfect,” said Gwen Dhing, the host of the event, who also hosted the inaugural fashion show last year. “Everybody wUnknown-1orked hard together and before we knew it we were putting on this great show.”

The fashion show this year passes along the idea of “reclaim, reuse, recycle”. All of the outfits that are being showcased in the fashion show are available for purchase after the event, from the shoes to the hats and everything in between. 

This year’s show will feature a silent auction, live music, heavy hors d’oeuvres, a 50/50 raffle, a cash bar and of course the fashion show itself, which will feature many local celebrities. Notable participants include Banner Elk Mayor Brenda Lyerly, Pastor Derek Boggs of Grace Lutheran Church, Dhing and her husband Ronald of Makoto’s Japanese Steak House, Frank and Kay Borkowski, Father David Brzoska of St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country and Pastor Roy Dobyns of First Baptist Church of Boone.

“Its great to raise awareness,” Dhing said. “Most people don’t think about Goodwill, much. They just take in their stuff and forget about it. Its all about raising awareness.”

Though 100 percent of all proceeds for the event will go to Hospitality House, it also raises awareness for Goodwill and the products and services that the organization has to offer. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at the Hospitality House website and physical address, at Goodwill Boone and Goodwill in West Jefferson. Donate items to Goodwill and receive $5 off of the ticket price. The fashion show will begin at 7 p.m., with an opportunity to purchase the showcased outfits and other items immediately following the conclusion of the show.