Michele Benson believes Tastefully Yours is the best ticket in town.

The chief development officer of the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank has been affiliated with the nonprofit organization since 2003. She began working as a volunteer on the Tastefully Yours committee and quickly worked her way up to a full-time paid leadership role.

“It’s going to be a great night, a lot of fun,” Benson said. “I don’t know anywhere else you can go and pay $50 and get all-you-can-eat, drink, have a little fun gambling, listen to live music, dance and take some pictures.”

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Tastefully Yours is an annual food and drink sampling event at the Hampton Roads Convention Center that benefits the food bank. This year’s event is 6-9:30 p.m. April 12. About 30 restaurants and breweries join ticket holders for a night of live music, casino games and more. The event celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

All proceeds benefit Virginia Peninsula Foodbank programs including two highlighted by Benson, the BackPack program and Mobile Food Pantry.
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The BackPack program aims to decrease food insecurity for local children by giving them healthy foods to take home during long holiday weekends while school is in session. The Mobile Food Pantry provides healthy foods to communities in need, according to the food bank’s website.

They also have five other programs that help feed the community through various outreach methods.

“Every dollar goes directly back into the community,” Benson said.

This year’s event will include restaurants such as Fin Seafood, Smoke BBQ, Plaza Azteca, Cookie Text and Nawab Indian Cuisine. Tastefully Yours tickets also include drinks, Benson said.

According to Benson, the event has grown over the past 25 years, moving from the Hampton Holiday Inn to Hampton University before finding its home at the Hampton Roads Convention Center about a decade ago. More than 1,000 people attended the event in 2017, she said.

“It’s really exciting to have an event that’s stood the test of time with the community” Benson said. “It started off 25 years ago as a much smaller event, but because of the support we’ve received from our local business, sponsorships and the community purchasing tickets, it’s grown and grown.”

Hampton Roads Convention Center is located at 1610 Coliseum Drive in Hampton. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door. For more information, visit hrfoodbank.org or call 757-596-7188.

Article from the Daily Press – http://www.dailypress.com/entertainment/food/food-finds/dp-fea-tastefully-yours-2018-foodbank-fundraiser-20180402-story.html