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Blue Jean Ball Boosts Food Share's Mission

Fresh off its busiest year yet, Food Share of Ventura County presents the 4th Annual Blue Jean Ball, Thursday, September 26,, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Walnut Grove in Moorpark. The signature event helps to fulfill Food Share’s mission to feed hungry people.

June 2019 marked the end of a successful fiscal year with a record 13.2 million pounds of food distributed to help feed the hungry residents of Ventura County. It’s a job well done, but a monumental task that must continue to feed the need.

“As hunger relief workers, we are reminded daily of the hundreds of different families that depend on Food Share to feed their families,” says Monica White, Food Share’s President & CEO. “As Ventura County’s food bank, Food Share is faced with the responsibility of sourcing and providing food to 75,000 hungry people every month.”

This year’s Blue Jean Ball features something new: a VIP section, sponsored by Dole Packaged Foods, with celebrity Chef Jamie Gwen, as seen on “Master Chef,” where she will showcase an epic 8-foot long Crudité board filled with edible delights. She will also host a meet and greet with a cookbook signing and each guest will leave with a special gift from Jamie herself.

“When the VIP tickets went on sale at the beginning of July, they sold out within a week!” says Jennifer Caldwell, Marketing Director. “We reached out to Jamie to share the good news and she didn’t even hesitate to make room for more.”

The VIP section will also feature specialty cocktails from 1901 Speakeasy. Based in Oxnard, mixologist Jared handcrafts prohibition-era specialty cocktails. Tickets to enjoy the VIP section along with all the other fun the Blue Jean Ball offers go for $125. General Admission tickets are also available at $100 per person.

More than 20 local restaurants, wineries and breweries will be serving and pouring at the event, along with entertainment, delicious desserts and a silent auction.

“The name says it all: wear those blue jeans!” says Caldwell. “It’s a fun evening of celebrating Food Share and our community.”

Many local favorite hot spots will offer pouring or tasting, including Enegren Brewing, 14 Cannons, Institution Ale Co., Flat Fish Brewery, Ventura Coast Brew Co., Poseidon Brewing, Strey Cellars, 8th Devil Distributing, Cantara Cellars, Four Brix Winery, Command Performance Catering, Stonefire Grill, Sysco Foods, Sugar Lab Bake Shop, Li Mor Cakes, Dottie’s Sweet Delights, Spicetopia and Thousand Oaks Acorn Co., to name a few. 

For tickets, visit FoodShare.com/BlueJeanBall.