Servants Inc. plans annual gala

Servants Inc. has its roots in a mission trip that founder and CEO Trent Davis took to Guatemala around the year 2000. Davis wanted to share his experience with others, and he began coordinating mission trips, but that was just the beginning. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina inspired Davis to do home repair work stateside. Flooding in York County in 2010 brought the program home. Servants now has a presence in Adams and Lancaster counties as well. In Lancaster County, Servants is mostly active in the ELANCO area as well as Columbia and Marietta. Servants Inc. completed more than 110 projects and had more than 10,000 volunteer hours total in 2022.

To raise funds to help area families in need, Servants holds a spring gala. The 2023 event, which will be the fifth for the organization, will be held on Friday, April 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Stone Mill Inn, 305 S. Broad St., Hallam. The event will include a cocktail hour, a sit-down multicourse meal, videos, live and silent auctions, and live music, and Davis will give an update on the work of the ministry.

Calling Stone Mill a "gorgeous" location, Keith Cotton, director of outreach with Servants, said that gala activities changed somewhat after a virtual event was held in 2021. "2021 was the first time we introduced an auction," said Cotton, who noted that an auctioneer hosted the event and videos were shown. Both those features became part of the live auction in 2022. Because the cocktail hour was successful last year, the 2023 gala will begin with wine and select craft beers. "(During that time), people talked to each other and looked at the silent auction items," said Cotton. "It was more relaxing." Cotton pointed out that the food at the event is often a highlight and that attendees often comment on how good it is. The auctioneer who handled the virtual fundraiser will be the event's master of ceremonies. "The program is pretty light," said Cotton, who noted that the videos are created with the audience in mind. "People might not know everything about Servants, so the information that's presented gives people an introduction to what we do and some of the impact that we have and want to continue to have on the communities that we serve."

Silent auction items will include a number of themed baskets. Live auction items have traditionally included a beach house vacation at the Outer Banks and a catered meal by a Servants employee. "He is an excellent chef," said Cotton. "He makes barbecue and smoker (items)." Other auction items will include a Mission Destiny helicopter ride, a catered brisket dinner, a bourbon tasting party for eight, a three-night weekend mountain getaway, and use of an Ocean City, Md. condominium. Cotton pointed out that one item will be a private dinner for eight at the Stone Mill Inn. "It includes a five-course dinner paired with wine and prepared by an exclusive culinary team," he said.

While the gala has traditionally been held inside the Stone Mill Inn, this year a heated tent will serve as the dining area. The use of the tent will expand the number of people who can attend to about 175. Cotton said that the organization hopes to raise $50,000 to be used to "minister to the spiritual and physical needs of hurting people in our local community, across the USA, and around the world."

Information about tickets and sponsorship opportunities may be found at http://www.servants.org/gala. Readers who have questions may email sponsorship@servants.org or call 717-378-0336.