New Hope Counseling Center will host A Taste of New Hope on Thursday, Oct. 12, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Providence Church, 269 Cinder Road, New Providence. The drop-in fundraising event will feature entertainment, a live auction, a silent auction and a variety of food from local restaurants. The proceeds will support various programs offered by New Hope Counseling Center.

Tickets for the event are available for a set cost per person, with a set maximum price per family. Food is included in the cost of admission, and guests will be able to choose small plates and appetizers from local vendors such as Barnyard Catering & Concessions, El Milagro, La Dolce Vita, Oola Bowls, Sarah's Custom Cakery and C.R. Lapp's.

A live auction will begin at 7 p.m., and participants will have a chance to bid on a selection of giant decorated cookies. Each extra-large dessert will have been custom-made by Sarah's Custom Cakery for the fundraiser.

A silent auction will also take place throughout the fundraiser, and it will include items donated by local businesses. Gift cards to Longwood Gardens and Sight & Sound Theatres, furniture, handmade baby blankets, baked goods and plants from local greenhouses will be among the items up for bids.

To highlight a few of the New Hope Counseling Center's programs, the organization's counselors will be present at A Taste of New Hope. The counselors will offer information about the ministry, meet with members of the community and explain the tools they employ when seeing clients.

This is the third year New Hope Counseling Center has held a fundraising event that features small plate dining. The organization previously held an annual banquet to raise money for its programs, but it discontinued the tradition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, New Hope Counseling Center held a drive-through donation event, but it decided to create a new yearly event to appeal to community members of all ages. "We were trying to think outside of the box, since banquets aren't for everyone," said Deb Riddell, New Hope's executive director. "We've seen new people at the event each year as it continues to grow, and we hope more people come to learn about us and what we do in the community."

New Hope is a nonprofit organization that offers counseling services that incorporate Christian teachings. All of New Hope's clients are self-pay, and more than 75 percent of its clients receive financial assistance for sessions. A Taste of New Hope will be the only fundraiser hosted by the organization in 2023.

For more information, visit http://www.newhopeministry.info.