The Austin Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary (SAWA) held their third annual Garden Party of Tablescapes and Spring Style Show at the Four Seasons Austin. The event was a luncheon, complete with elegant tablescapes, live entertainment, and a fabulous fashion show with styles from The Garden Room. The keynote speaker was Kreis Beall, founder of Blackberry Farms and author of The Great Blue Hills of God. Event proceeds benefit The Rathgeber Center for Families, one of two Salvation Army family shelters in Austin.
Attendees watched a video from Latrice, who lived at The Rathgeber Center when she was in crisis. In the shelter, Latrice was able to get the help she needed to regain self sufficiency and get her daughter, who has autism, the help that she needs. Latrice successfully exited the shelter and now has her own apartment. Latrice attended the event as a special guest.
Event planning efforts were led by the SAWA host committee, comprised of Linda Dryden (event chair), Jenny Jopling (tablescape chair), Shannon Elmquist (public relations chair), Jennifer Riojas-Santos (SAWA Liaison), and overseen by Major Jacqulyn Reckline (Austin Area Commander).
The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary (SAWA) is a volunteer educational and fundraising arm of The Salvation Army Greater Austin Area Command. SAWA sponsors initiatives that enrich the lives of citizens in Travis and Williamson counties by meeting them at their point of need. For more information, go to sawaaustin.org.
