After a few years of living with COVID-19 restrictions, which offered little or no chance for people to dress up and go out, Pregnancy Resources at Cornerstone has announced its 12th annual Ladies' Tea and Auction. This year's high tea will include all the traditional activities associated with the event, such as food, prizes, and a live auction. "It's a very fancy, feminine event," said Jennie Straub, director at Cornerstone. "It's nice to get dressed up."

"The ladies (who attend) get to dress up and wear hats," said Kathy Greig, director of business affairs for Cornerstone, who explained that table hostesses are needed for six more tables. A table hostess decorates and hosts her table and invites eight to 12 guests.

The theme for this year's tea is "Redemptive Love," and the event will be held on Saturday, May 7, at Linville Hill Elementary School, 295 S. Kinzer Road, Paradise. Tickets that are purchased by Monday, April 25, will be discounted.

Table decorations may be as simple as a flower centerpiece and china, or they may be more elaborate. Straub recalled a year when a woman drew inspiration from the Book of Esther and decorated her table in a royal theme with crowns.

"There's a transformation when the tables are decorated," said Greig. "You walk into the room and 15 to 18 tables are decorated." Prizes are awarded for the best decorated tables, and a prize is also bestowed upon the woman who wears the best decorated hat.

Food that will be served at the tea will include homemade scones with lemon curd or jam; chicken salad on a croissant; asparagus, bacon, and Swiss quiche; pumpernickel finger sandwiches with cucumber, ham, and chive cream cheese; a pastry puff with blueberry sharp white cheddar and lemon zest; and an antipasto skewer with salami, basil, mozzarella, and cherry tomatoes. Featured desserts will be lemon pound cake with vanilla butter cream, strawberry tarts, and chocolate macarons.

In addition to the food and fun, the tea will feature a live auction including about 100 items donated by local businesses. This year, auction items will include tickets to the Ark Encounter and to Sight & Sound Theatre, themed baskets, restaurant gift cards, home decor, an Airbnb stay, and more. Esbenshade's Garden Center has donated items for an auction of flowering baskets and planters.

Funds raised by the tea will help support Cornerstone's vision to empower individuals to embrace life-honoring choices. "Proceeds from this event will help us continue to serve men and women facing a difficult pregnancy decision," said Straub.

Women who would like to host a table or purchase tickets may email event coordinator Kristi Martin at kri@pregnancyresources.org or call 717-442-8694.