Old West feel for the fall fundraiser at St. Joseph Villa

Friday, Oct. 31, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — The Saint Joseph Villa volunteers will celebrate their Fall Luncheon fundraiser this year at Saint Ambrose Parish’s social center to raise funds for the Saint Joseph Villa Foundation for Charity Care.

Western Roundup is the fundraiser’s theme. 

Volunteers play a big role at the villa, said Eileen Benavidez, villa volunteer publicity chairperson.

Benavidez speaks from experience: She decided to become a volunteer at St. Joseph Villa because her father was a resident there. 

“I did it because I thought, ‘I am here anyway; I might as well volunteer,” said Benavidez, who added that she is very happy about her decision. “You get to work with a fabulous group of people and the residents really appreciate the help. It is just how St. Joseph Villa becomes a big family.”

The volunteers play a significant role in the residents’ wellbeing at the Villa by helping them with social and recreational activities, Benavidez said.

 “They also help to run a gift shop at the villa, in which all the profits go into the bank. They use them for things that the residents need. Every time that there is an event, [volunteers] help the residents to go; they also do a lot of events like take the residents to the Festival of Trees, to the Christmas lights [at Temple Square]. … They make sure that everybody is comfortable in the bus, they push their wheelchairs, they deliver them gifts,” said Benavidez, adding that more than 40 volunteers help at St. Joseph  Villa and they have been doing it for over 50 years. 

“The Fall Fundraiser is a big event for them since the money that gets collected through the fundraiser will go toward the necessities that the people at the Villa need,” said Benavidez.

Every year the festival has a different theme, which is selected through a brainstorming session at a volunteer meeting.

“We try to come up with an idea that will be fun and different. … We have had a cruise theme, aloha theme, a Breakfast at Tiffany’s theme …,” said Benavidez.

This year, the festival is meant to recreate the feel of the Old West.

“There will also be door prizes, a bake sale, a jewelry sale, and many, many choices to win lots of prizes,” said Benavidez, inviting everyone to attend the Fall Fundraiser.

“We will have a lot of fun,” she said.

For  information or tickets for the Fall Luncheon Fundraiser, contact Maxine Giovacchini at 801-582-2282, or stop by the  Gift Shop in St. Joseph Villa, 451 Bishop Federal Lane, Salt Lake City.

What: St. Joseph Villa Volunteer Fall Luncheon Fundraiser 

Where: St. Ambrose Parish social center, 1975 South 2300 East, SLC

When: Nov. 8, social hour at 11:30 a.m.. The luncheon, which starts at 12:30 p.m., will be a Western-style BBQ, provided by Meier’s Catering.

Tickets: $25; available through Nov. 5 at the villa’s gift shop