Contributed
The CARE Group invites the Moore County community to experience the very best of local dining at the inaugural Seven Lakes Taste & Tour on Thursday, Oct. 23, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. This unique restaurant hop along Grant Street and Seven Lakes Plaza will offer guests the chance to stroll or ride in style on golf carts provided by Double Eagle Golf Carts while sampling small bites and sips from participating Seven Lakes restaurants, bakeries and caterers. The evening will also feature local vendors.
The restaurant stops include Mamma Mia, DeLucia’s, Casa Santa Ana, Lake House Tavern, Taqueria la Mexicana, Seven Lakes Pizza, and Sandhills Winery. Lake House Tavern and Sandhills Winery will feature live music. Participating vendors at the sample stops will include ReynWick, LLC, RustLand Revision, Cinder & Smoke Candle Co and Opie’s Rock Garden.
Guests can visit The CARE Group office, located at 241 Grant St., where additional caterers will be serving tastings, a raffle and wine pull will be held, and visitors can tour the space to learn more about the organization’s mission.
“Seven Lakes has such a great variety of restaurants and businesses who have an amazing community spirit,” said Jackie Cornell, chief operating officer. “The Taste & Tour is about celebrating that all while helping local kids and adults achieve their full potential through our programs.”
General admission tickets are $35 and include a tasting passport, samples from each stop, and entry for prizes when the passport is completed. VIP tickets are $50 and include all general admission perks, plus two drink tickets redeemable at select locations and one entry into a VIP exclusive raffle. Tickets are available on the CARE Group website at www.thecaregroupinc.org/events.
All proceeds from ticket sales and raffles benefit The CARE Group’s one-on-one youth mentoring and adult literacy tutoring programs, which serve Moore County and surrounding areas. This event is sponsored by Stay Well Vacation Rentals.
The CARE Group is the merger of two nonprofits (in 2021) that have been serving Moore County for over 30 years, Moore Buddies Mentoring and Moore County Literacy Council. Moore Buddies Mentoring provides one-on-one mentoring for youth who are at risk of failing or dropping out of school.
Programs include RISE, which works with youth coming out of youth detention and provides a highly trained mentor to help guide and support them.
Through the School Suspension Diversion Program youth who would be suspended can keep up their school work and learn self-regulation skills. Youth are referred by their schools.
The Adult Literacy Program provides one-on-one tutoring for adults who are ESL or ABE learners. Digital literacy classes are offered to all skill levels. Tutoring and guidance for those seeking their U.S. citizenship is also provided. All free of charge.
The CARE Group is always looking to train new volunteer mentors and tutors. Call (910) 692-5954 for more information about the CARE Group.
