Horsing Around at the Rhinestone Rodeo

Goodbye, holiday season. Hello, gala season. While the winter months on Marco Island are often referred to as tourist season, the island's gala season is very impactful in its own right, with at least eight major galas on the schedule this winter. On Sunday, January 6, Our Daily Bread Food Pantry kicked off gala season with a packed crowd of 200 of the best-dressed cowboys and cowgirls in SW Florida at the Island Country Club. 

The weather could not have been better for fun and frivolity on the large patio area with temperatures hovering around 70 degrees. And who doesn’t enjoy watching the uninhibited take a ride on a mechanical bull? While there's no doubt the bull’s operator helped to make the greenhorns look good, there were a couple of riders who looked like they’d spent some time on a ranch. You can tell people are enjoying themselves when organizers have to make multiple calls for the crowd to come inside and settle down to eat dinner. 

The country club’s kitchen was in top form, serving an interesting wedge salad, ribs, and chicken, or a vegetarian pasta dish, followed by a nice chocolate dessert. They also efficiently served the appreciative crowd. 

There was bidding on three live auction items, but the Fund-a-Need auction was nothing short of inspiring. A heartrending video about the charity’s work may very well have fueled the outpouring of support shown by attendees. Emcee Rachel Cox-Rosen nailed it with her cowgirl outfit and stage presence. Auctioneer Rick Gallo paired well with Cox-Rosen, especially during the Fund-a-Need auction.  

And the dancing was fun, thanks in no small part to the popular Southwest Florida country band, Back Country Boys. There were even prizes given out for a boot scootin’ competition. 

But no one was losing track of why they were there—to raise money to help wipe out hunger. 

Our Daily Bread’s executive director Evelyn Rossetti-Ryan is passionate about the charity’s mission. She was right out front greeting everyone as they arrived. 

"The second annual Rhinestone Rodeo is a celebration of our community and the impact that we have coming together as a community to combat hunger,” Rossetti-Ryan said. “All the dollars that we raise this evening go directly to our mission and directly to fighting hunger in our community. We want to ensure that students have food on the weekends and when they come to school. We want to ensure that working families don't need to choose between paying an electric bill and buying groceries. And we want to ensure that seniors not only have nutritious food, but they have a warm smile and the services that they need."  

Rossetti-Ryan is justifiably proud of the charity’s sponsors, including Naples Community Hospital. 

"Our presenting sponsor is NCH,” she said, "which is growing here on the island. And we also have Tamiami Ford, Hyundai, and Genesis as a very special exclusive partner sponsor.” 

Rossetti-Ryan invites anyone interested in joining Our Daily Bread Food Pantry to contact her. 

“They can join with us by either connecting us with people who need our services,” she said, "or by donating funding or donating time. All are welcome." 

Contact Our Daily Bread Food Pantry at ourdailybreadfoodpantry.org. Or email Rosetti-Ryan directly at evelyn@ourdailybreadffodpantry.org.