High tea fun(d)raiser
Annual Interfaith event draws teams competing for honors while supporting local families.
Tasha Osbourne, Angela DeLuca and Karla Greenway, left to right, pose together during the Interfaith Emergency Services High Tea at the UF Extension auditorium at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Ocala, Fla. on Saturday, May 2, 2026. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2026.
Interfaith Emergency Service’s 10th annual High Tea took place May 2 at the UF Extension Auditorium in northeast Ocala. The room was packed with guests attired in amazing finery and beautiful hats, with table themes such as the classic “Alice in Wonderland.”
In announcing the annual event weeks ago, Karla Greenway, the executive director of Interfaith, noted through social media that “The Ladies’ High Tea raises support for our homeless shelter. At any time, half of our residents are children and infants. Almost every family that comes in our shelter leaves stably housed with sustainable income. We only have 37 beds, but last year received over 1,500 calls from people in need of shelter. Sadly, we had to turn down more than 1,000 people who were desperate for a safe place to sleep. We are expanding our shelter to add 25 more beds this year.”
During the high tea gathering, “hostesses” bring together friends and family members to help raise money to support the cause.
“What an amazing event,” Greenway wrote via email on May 4. “These hostesses did a wonderful job of making the event special. Not only were the tables incredible but together they raised over $92,000 for our shelter ministry.”
The winner of the Golden Teapot, with $41,740 raised, was the Recharge Clinic Table, hosted by Cynthia Tieche and Kirsten Young. Cherie Foster and the Women of Our Savior Lutheran went home with the Silver Teapot, raising over $5,053, and our new award, The Crystal Tea Cup, went to the Homes to Ranches Table hosted by Amy Jo Lord, who raised $4,850, Greenway shared.
The People’s Choice table theme winner, as voted on by all attendees, went to Jane Moerlie for “Alice in Wonderland.”
The Most Creative table theme honor went to Maria Roman with Champions for Champions
“Chicken Salad Chick sponsored the event by providing food for the guests,” Greenway noted, adding that other sponsors included Recharge Clinic, Homes to Ranches Realty, Frank and Angela DeLuca, Lou James, Carmen’s Carmart, HCA Florida HealthCare, Midstate Skin & Aesthetics Institute and Mainstreet Community Bank.
“This is a new record for this event and we are already looking forward to next year. The event will be held the first Saturday in May again in 2027 and if there’s anyone out there who wants to get involved, please contact us at [email protected] or through our Facebook page,” she added.
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