April 30, 2003
Doula throws tea party
63 attend fund-raiser for Doula Teen Parent Program
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
The second annual Doula Silver Lining Tea was a feast for the senses.
Held Saturday afternoon at the Central United Methodist Church, the event drew 63 attendees for a three-course high tea. The tone was set by elegant table displays, an array of donated teapots and tea cups and crisp linen tablecloths and napkins. Dressed in their floral best, with a sprinkling of hats and gloves, attendees feasted on luscious berries, gooey sweets and demure sandwiches. Chocolate truffles provided the coup de grace, finishing the event with a sweet smile.
"I love tea parties," said Shen Walker, 9, a third-grade student at Old Mission Elementary School. "I like drinking tea with everyone, it's nice and comfortable."
Walker attended the tea with her mom, Dianne, both of whom are tea party veterans - miniature ones, that is.
"We love to have tea parties, we have a collection of miniature tea cups at home we use," said Dianne Walker. "We are enjoying looking at all these cups."
The Silver Lining tea also featured a silent auction, with items donated from area businesses and artists. Pianist Brad Craker and singer-songwriter Sharon O'Malley provided entertainment for the event.
Seated at tables of eight, the attendees socialized in the best of tea time tradition, making friends around the tinkling of cups and oohs of delight as each course was served.
"I thought it went really well, we had so many people say they were having a good time and were making plans to come back next year," said Maureen Nelson, director of the Doula Teen Parent Program. "Some of them didn't know each other at their tables but were taking names and addresses so they could sit together next year."
Nearly a dozen volunteers helped serve the tea, representing both community members and Doula volunteers. A group of youth from the Leelanau Community Christian School came with a teacher from the school to help out.
Pearl Brown of Northport and her daughter, Niesje Dowell, helped out in the kitchen as well as poured tea, served sandwiches (or 'sammies') and sweets and kept teapots full of either Earl Gray or Ginger Peach tea. Brown is a Doula volunteer, matched with a young mother to provide a mentoring friend. She is a huge proponent of the program and eagerly gave up her Saturday to help with the fundraising tea.
"I think the Doula program is the best thing since sliced bread," Brown said.
The Doula Teen Parent Program has been helping young mothers for the past 26 years. The program covers a five-county area in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties. The volunteers serve approximately 80 clients a year although this year's numbers are climbing toward 90 young mothers.
Doula volunteers provide emotional support and advice during a young mother's pregnancy and for up to two years after birth. The volunteers help ensure prenatal care and proper nutrition during pregnancy, provide labor coaching if needed and support the mother and baby with regular visits during the crucial first years of a child's life.
The money raised by the Silver Lining Tea will pay for young families receiving services from our program. In an era of state budget shortfalls, every dollar raised will help provide program services.
"We're hoping we don't get any more budget cuts, we've already trimmed budgets by reducing staff through not replacing," Nelson noted. "We're just looking more to the community for their support, they've been very generous in helping us out."