The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) upcoming BIG event, Taste of the Islands, is getting a new format because of the current pandemic. CROW's Taste of the Islands is typically held on a Sunday, on Sanibel Island, in November with a dozen or so restaurants offering their tastes for the patrons in a festival-style setting. This year, however, the event will be moving into the restaurants and lasting throughout the month of November.
“Taste of the Islands needed to be “REIMAGINED” this year. We couldn’t have it in the park, so we needed to be creative,” says Hussey, “Everyone has had a pretty rough year, so we are excited to be able to encourage diners to come to the islands, to visit the restaurants themselves all while helping to raise money for wildlife and keeping our community healthy.”
Each participating restaurant will be offering their “Taste” items to showcase their cuisine throughout the month of November. A portion of the proceeds from those designated food and beverage “Tastes” sold will be donated to CROW. Additionally, every Sunday a different ‘CROW Crawl’ will feature different restaurants for hungry patrons to visit. The CROW tent, along with Animal Ambassadors, will be in front of one of the restaurants with Taste of the Islands sponsors featured outside other restaurants in the region.
In lieu of admission to the event, participants can purchase a “Taste Passport” with a listing and map of participating restaurants. Each restaurant will stamp or punch the passport so patrons can track their progress. Only passport holders will be eligible to vote for their favorite restaurant to win the coveted ‘People’s Choice Award’ and be entered into a drawing for fabulous prizes including vacation stays and gift certificates. Passports will be available for purchase at CROW or at participating restaurants, or online for pick up at “Will Calls” both on Sanibel and off.
Proceeds from Taste of the Islands ensure CROW’s continued success providing the highest quality care and treatment of injured, ill and orphaned wildlife through state-of-the-art veterinary care. Funds also support public educational exhibits at the Visitor Education Center. Healthy wildlife means a healthy environment for all of us.
For more information about Taste, sponsorships, or to become a participating restaurant, please contact Mary C. Schoeffel, Development Director at (239) 472-3644 #232 or mschoeffel@crowclinic.org
