Tickets on sale for Becoming Cosmopolitan

Tickets are now on sale for the third annual Becoming Cosmopolitan event benefiting Community Cooperative Ministries Inc.

This women's only evening is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 20, from 6 to 9 p.m., at The Veranda restaurant in downtown Fort Myers. The event will feature glamorous shopping with local vendors, gourmet hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, and a live and silent auction all in celebration of the cosmopolitan lifestyle in Southwest Florida while raising much-needed funds for the local community.

Community Cooperative provides nutritious meals and many other services to the homeless, homebound, seniors, working poor, children and the frail in our community. The agency was first incorporated in 1984 and in expanded its mission and outreach to Lee County by merging with agencies that had historically provided home delivered meals to the homebound hungry and transportation services to the frail elderly. Today, the cooperative's programs and services include The Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels, Senior Transportation, the Montessori Preschool of Dunbar and Family and Homeless Services. The not-for-profit agency serves Fort Myers and the greater Lee County area — including Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres.

"Now more than ever before we find our community in an urgent crisis," said Sam Galloway Jr., one of the sponsors of Becoming Cosmopolitan and a Community Cooperative board member. "With today's economy there

are so many more of our

community neighbors who have lost their jobs and are in need of food for their families. They are forced to rely on the charity and compassion of others and events like this greatly help in the fight against hunger."

In its third year, Becoming Cosmopolitan aims to bring something special to women of all ages through unique, upscale vendors, great food, fun cocktails, giveaways and an ultra-trendy live auction.

This year's list of vendors includes Soma Intimates, Estero Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center - Dr. Gregory M. Houck, For the Love of Chocolate, Jennifer's, Picture This Real Life Photography and The Paper Mill.

Items already in hand for the live and silent auction include custom photography, chefs' dinners, sporting events, hotel stays, theatre tickets, theme park tickets, gift baskets, gift certificates and more.

Tickets to the event are now available for $100 each. The first 100 tickets sold will include a special Becoming Cosmopolitan swag bag filled with goodies from event sponsors as well as other retailers. For tickets or more information, call 332-7687.