Wine tasting to benefit Our House

Our House: Caring for Callaway's Homeless is hoping area residents think a wine tasting is the best way to wind down after tax day.

Our House is hosting a Tax Day Wine Tasting fundraiser from 5-7:30 p.m. on April 17 at Serenity Valley Winery near Millersburg. For $20, attendees will sample six different wines and enjoy appetizers and alcohol-free beverages. They also will have the opportunity to pay to take a swing at an Uncle Sam piñata or purchase balloons with special prizes.

Our House Executive Director Brad Sheppard said the wine tasting is something the organization's board has been discussing for a long time.

"We thought it would be something people would enjoy," Sheppard said. "We thought it might be a nice time to relax, experience the new winery and support a good cause at the same time."

He said Our House is hoping to raise $500-$1,000 on the 17th.

According to Sheppard, attendance at Our House has been "holding steady," particularly at Wiley House - the overnight shelter.

"The numbers aren't in for March yet, but we averaged about six (guests) a night in January and February," Sheppard said.

Regina Ruppert, who owns Serenity Valley Winery with her husband, Lee, said she didn't hesitate to help when Our House approached them about doing the fundraiser there.

"I like to be involved in the community," Ruppert said. "It sounded like a really awesome group and I thought we could help them out and get people familiar with us at the same time."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.