SNOHOMISH — Soon after guests finished their fresh green pea and radish soups, it began to rain.
Salad was next but the rain got worse and minutes later, the 98 diners grabbed their plates and fled the Dinner in the Field event earlier this month.
Luckily, tables were already in place for an after-dinner reception in a covered pavilion at Swans Trail Farms in Snohomish. It was an easy transition to finish the six-course dinner there.
“Looking out to see everyone with napkins over their heads, it really made people participate and personally, I think it added to the atmosphere,” said Margaret Boys-Wolf, head chef for the dinner and Sherwood Community Services volunteer.
This was the third year of the benefit dinner held for Sherwood Community Services, which is based in Lake Stevens and provides services to children and adults with disabilities in Snohomish County, said Pattie Urie, associate executive director for the organization.
One of the highlights of the benefit dinner was the return of Boys-Wolf. Last year, she was in place as chef but after her son Nathan was in a serious off-road vehicle accident just a week before “it just couldn’t happen,” she said.
Her son later died from injuries from the accident, but Boys-Wolf wanted to return to the Dinner in the Field this year. A life lesson she tried to instill in her son was to follow through on commitments.
Doing the dinner a year after the accident was difficult for Boys-Wolf. “He was always in the back of my mind and a significant part of that night,” she said.
Her long-time friend Ronda Newitt-Larson and other volunteers at dinner helped support her through the night.
“They all knew what was going on,” Boys-Wolf said.
Newitt-Larson agreed.
“We fed off of each other,” she said. “It’s an incredible group of people and volunteers.”
Roughly 15 volunteers helped host the event and at $100 per plate, $94 of it was donated to the organization, said Newitt-Larson.
Boys-Wolf tried to incorporate as much locally grown food into the dinner as possible and the vegetables were picked the morning of the meal.
Swans Trail Farms donated the facility, linens and chairs for the event, and the lamb for the entree was donated by Ninety Farms in Arlington.
Newitt-Larson believes it’s the good cause and enjoyable atmosphere that makes the fundraiser a success.
“They’re an incredible group of people who help others who can’t help themselves,” she said. “They have huge hearts.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
