March 3, 2007

Cooking on the Square, Part Two

(2/3/07) What do you have when you combine hundreds of one-of-a-kind handcrafted bowls, warm rice, and a vast array of delicious gumbos? Of course, it's Habitat's much loved event – Cooking on the Square! But what do you have when it's not October, when it's a Saturday night and the setting is several miles from Cookeville's Courthouse Square – how about….. Cooking on the Square, Part Two! For nine years on the last Friday in October, Cooking on the Square, has brought hundreds to the courthouse square to enjoy a delicious cajun lunch in a one of a kind handcrafted bowl, all to support the local housing ministry, Putnam County Habitat for Humanity. This past October's event was no different, except for the deluge of rain that never slowed until two o'clock that afternoon. Despite the weather conditions, 7000-800 faithfuls came out and supported the event. "It was truly remarkable to see our friends in raincoats, ponchos or just holding umbrellas to come out that day and still support our organization. And without the Cooks, Rice Girls, and volunteers who had to endure the weather all morning, the event would not have occurred. It's just very special to all of us at Habitat to know that so many really, really enjoy this annual event." Says Pam Ealey, Executive Director of Putnam County Habitat for Humanity.

Michael Porten, President of PCHFH Board of Directors and Senior VP of Regions accepts a check from Dan Blakely as Regions gave a donation to PCHFH to help make up some of the shortfall from last year's event. Regions & AmSouth are now selling the $15 tickets for Cooking on the Square, Part Two.

The support for this event has grown every year, but due to the weather, the 2006 version was short several thousands of dollars from the typical event. "The rain didn't stop the fact that we have families in need of affordable housing and due to the shortfall, we looked at ways to have a make-good event" continued Ealey. That's when the idea of Cooking on the Square, Part II was born.

For the last several years, Putnam County HFH has managed the local Home Builders Association's Home Show. With that event on the calendar it just made sense to add a dinner event to the show, which drew more than 7,000 last year.

So on Saturday night, March 3rd, at the annual Upper Cumberland Home & Garden Show, several faithful volunteers will gather to cook the gumbo and the leftover bowls that were packed up last fall will be washed and ready.

Unlike the regular event, this is a dinner and tickets will be sold in advance. The price is the same as the lunch at $15 but a limited number of tickets will be sold in advance and are available now at the offices of PCHFH ( 728 East 15th Street) and at Regions Bank on Broad Street and in Algood, and at the AmSouth branches on South Jefferson Avenue and South Willow Avenue. The $15 ticket will give the bearer admission into the 29th Home Show and entry into the dinner area at 5 o'clock, where they will have a choice of a bowl and all the gumbo they desire.

PCHFH volunteers want to see their supporters that weren't able to come out on that rainy day last October come out on Saturday night of the Home Show to this make-good event. Plus now with the setting on a weekend and in the evening those who have never been able to attend the lunch event are encouraged to come out with their friends and family for the dinner and experience Cooking on the Square Part Two.