As the weekend draws near, the pungent aroma of fermented grapes
grows strong, as the annual Gabilan Chapter of Kinship Center’s
Wine and Food Tasting rolls around for the 47th time on
Saturday.
Chairpersons of the event, Velma Tiffany and Krystal Bianchi,
have been working hard to organize and promote the event that
Tiffany helped to start almost a half-century ago.
As the weekend draws near, the pungent aroma of fermented grapes grows strong, as the annual Gabilan Chapter of Kinship Center’s Wine and Food Tasting rolls around for the 47th time on Saturday.
Chairpersons of the event, Velma Tiffany and Krystal Bianchi, have been working hard to organize and promote the event that Tiffany helped to start almost a half-century ago.
“I felt (Kinship) was a good cause to work for,” Tiffany said. “It is important to help children who need help and help families find children to adopt.”
Being a charter member, Tiffany has been president twice and served in almost every office, she said.
“People are expected to put their time in,” she said. “You just have to take your turn.”
Kinship has become so popular over the years there is a waiting list to join. Bianchi waited for two years until she was able to join the group.
“As a member I helped with fund-raisers, went to monthly meetings and tried to figure out what it was all about,” she said.
As a co-chairperson, Bianchi oversees all the committees, making sure everyone is doing what they should be doing so the event runs smoothly, she said.
“It’s been a great experience,” she said. “It’s really rewarding to see how much support we get from the community and how much they enjoy Kinship.”
The wine tasting is the largest fund-raiser for the Gabilan Chapter of Kinship Center, with the organization for the annual event beginning in January, Bianchi said.
“One of the biggest challenges is organizing everyone and getting people together,” she said. “People are so busy with work and other things, but thankfully we have very organized committee members.”
Throughout the years, a special camaraderie has been formed between the members of the group, Tiffany said.
“I enjoy working with all the women. Especially as I get older, it’s nice to form a bond with younger women in the community,” she said.
Striving to put on a successful wine tasting festival is second to the ultimate goal of the group, being able to enrich families and children’s lives.
“The future of our country depends on the health and well-being of our children,” Tiffany said. “The more we can do to make sure they are loved and brought up right, the better off we will all be.”
