DAPHNE — Take yourself or your significant other out for a night of good food and dancing for a good cause. The Kiwanis Club of Daphne and Spanish Fort's annual fundraising event, Taste of the Towns, is Thursday, May 11 at the Daphne Civic Center.

The Taste of the Towns event is a wonderful opportunity to sample 20 local restaurants in one night. The event also serves as the Kiwanis Club of Daphne and Spanish Fort's annual fundraiser. The club uses the funds raised at the event to support service projects, award scholarships and support child-focused organizations and projects.

"Kiwanis's whole mission is to make life better for children," said Mary Nevitt, club president. "We are big into literacy and funding projects that are going to benefit children."

Nevitt said the club's biggest project in Baldwin County was the Purple Park Inclusive Playground in Daphne. The club teamed up with the Exceptional Foundation and the city of Daphne to make the project possible. The Kiwanis Club contributed $50,000, money they raised over several years. The Taste of the Towns event made it possible.

Kiwanis of Daphne and Spanish Fort support the youth of the community in many ways. Throughout the school year the club supports Key Clubs within the high schools and Terrific Kids in the elementary schools, sponsors Peer Helper training for the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation, is active with the Boys and Girls Club and awarded four $1,000 scholarships to seniors at Daphne and Bayside High School. They also support the Prodisee Pantry throughout the year.

"We try to search out the needs and figure out what those are and help as many people as possible," Nevitt said.

Nevitt, in her last year as president of the club, has set a big goal for this year's Taste of the Town event. Last year the event welcomed over 300 community members and raised $21,000. This year she hopes to see between 350 - 450 in attendance and raise $30,000.

Club members have been working tirelessly to secure sponsors, restaurants and silent auction items that will cause bidding wars. Some of the items include rounds of golf, gift baskets, vacations and jewelry.

The Dogwood Trail Maids will greet guests while Roman Street entertains. Miss Gulf Coast 2023 Sydnee Cantley will go head-to-head with club secretary Mark Kirstein to see who can sell the most split-the-pot tickets. Nevitt is calling the competition Beauty and the Beast. Last year's winning ticket holder took home $800 so don't miss your chance to buy a ticket during the event.
Tickets are on sale for $50 and can be purchased from any Kiwanis member, by calling (850) 346-8567 or by scanning the QR code.

Taste of the Towns takes over the Daphne Civic Center May 11, 2023, from 6 to 8 p.m. Daphne Civic Center is at 2603 U.S. Highway 98, Daphne.

For more information on the Kiwanis Club of Daphne and Spanish Fort, visit www.dsfkiwanis.com.