6th Annual Gourmet Tasting & Expo Goes Above and Beyond

On Thursday, November 14th, 2013, Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County hosted the 6th Annual Gourmet Tasting & Expo to benefit its Women Build program at Aitoro Appliances in Norwalk. This annual event is a major fundraiser for the Women Build program, which encourages and empowers women to make a difference by building homes and communities.  Our coalition of Fairfield County women is addressing the critical shortage of affordable housing by volunteering their time to raise funds for, and build, Habitat homes in their communities.

The addition of the Women Build Expo this year gave local women-owned and women-oriented businesses a chance to showcase their products and services in a fun and exciting environment full of Habitat and Women Build supporters.  Throughout the night, guests were able to experience a variety of local restaurants and caterers, as well as sample services and products from over 20 local businesses.  Additionally, over 30 local businesses donated a gift for our Raffle, which helped raise a good portion of proceeds for the night.

In an inspiring fashion, Tony Aitoro, played auctioneer for our Parts of a House Auction.  With genuine passion and emotion, Tony moved guests, vendors and many of his own employees to bid on the doors, windows, insulation, toilets, sheetrock, paint and more needed to complete the program’s 9th home.  When all was said and done, a total contribution of over $29,000 was raised to complete the construction of the Burgos family home.

Tony jokes with Luis Burgos and his 2 girls as he encourages guests to bid on the home’s insulation

The event, sponsored by Aitoro Appliances, Mitchells of Westport, Lillian August Designs,  Hemingway Custom Cabinetry,  Vincent Palumbo Salon, and Garcon Photography, will help a deserving, low-income family of six achieve their dream of first time homeownership.  Luis and Elizabeth Burgos and their four children currently live in a two bedroom apartment on the East Side of Bridgeport with a kitchen so small they cannot share a meal at the same table. When they move into their Habitat home, their children, Manuel, 17, Keyla, 16, Alisha, 10, and the youngest Xavier, 2, will finally have the opportunity to play outside in the backyard and invite their friends over. They will each have a desk where they can complete homework and, in the future, write their college essays. The Burgos Family is eagerly awaiting the first night in their new home where they can actually sit together and enjoy dinner as a family.

For more pictures from the event, click here!