18th Annual Auxiliary Harvest Ball fundraiser promises Roaring Fun

It’s time to dust off your dancing shoes and get out the 3-piece suits and flapper gowns! The 18th Annual Glacial Ridge Hospital Auxiliary Harvest Ball is back after a two-year hiatus and will be held on Friday, Oct. 7 at the Minnewaska House. This year’s ball is guaranteed to be the cat’s meow with a Roaring ‘20s theme. Flappers and jellybeans are invited to get the dogs barking for a rollicking good time.

In September of last year, as the pandemic continued, the Harvest Ball was cancelled. The Auxiliary had pledged $50,000 to the radiology department. The funds raised this year will be going toward the same project for the purchase of a new bone density scanner in the Radiology Department. The current scanner is nearing its life end at 14 years old. 

The new scanner has many benefits, including the ability to detect a person’s risk for osteoporosis before it starts, to do a fracture risk assessment and it offers a complete body composition reading including body fat percentages, limb comparisons for muscle imbalance, visceral fat and much more. It also has new compatible software that will facilitate efficiency for the staff.

The Harvest Ball doors will open at 5 p.m. for a social time when attendees will be able to view the live and silent auction items as well as sign up for raffles and bid on the “Walls of Wine.” Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. consisting of roast pork loin with supreme sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, glazed baby carrots, salad and rolls, dessert and coffee. 

Following dinner there will be a live auction conducted by Zielsdorf Auctioneers. In the past, many people have had fun bidding against their friends to see which tables can raise the most funds for the year’s project.

After the live auction, the silent auction will continue for a short time and then the dancing will begin with The Sideliners Band. 

Watch the Pope County Tribune for more information, including auction items and raffle prizes, as the event draws closer.

The Auxiliary of the Glacial Ridge Health System has been supporting the hospital’s efforts since 1939 when the group was organized by Ann Bickle. She created the group with community service in mind and it became the first Hospital Auxiliary in the State of Minnesota.

Tickets for the Harvest Ball are $50/person and are available at the Glacial Ridge Hospital reception desk or by calling Joanna at (320)334-5539.