Volunteers plan fund-raiser for Youth & Family Services

Shrewsbury - With families feeling overscheduled and overwhelmed, one Shrewsbury group is offering some relief and fun while raising money for a worthy cause. "Fast Meals and Easy Entertaining" Sunday Jan. 13 will focus on a return to family dining and entertaining.

David and Kim Long and a group of volunteers will host an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. at 3 Tip Pond Road in Shrewsbury to benefit Shrewsbury Youth & Family Services (SYFS). Consultants from Pampered Chef and Southern Living at Home will discuss ways to prepare meals in 29 minutes or less, methods for easy and elegant entertaining, and offer items for purchase.

"Spending time with family and friends is a key ingredient to living well and enjoying life," Kim Long said. "We felt that this theme would be useful for the community and it ties in with the mission of SYFS, which is to strengthen families."

Proceeds from the sale of Pampered Chef and Southern Living at Home products will go directly to benefit SYFS.

The open house is the first of several events planned in 2008 to benefit SYFS and celebrate the agency's 25th anniversary. Volunteers will host a Valentine's Ladies Day Out event in February and the Anniversary Gala Saturday March 15.

For more information about the open house, call Kim Long at 508-842-7335.