Local Food The Star Of Allaire Community Farm Fundraiser, Wall

WALL, NJ — A "Farm to Table" fundraiser for Allaire Community Farm recently hosted 175 guests, supporting the organization that serves many special needs in the community.

And, being held on the farm, the seven-course, small-plate dinner saw a series of specialties prepared with the farm's harvest by executive chefs and caterers Joe Leone and Merri-Makers' Rick Bott and Jack McCann.

"All the vegetables were produced on the farm," said JoAnn Burney, who, with husband Sean, founded Allaire Community Farm. She added that more than 85 percent of the evening's meal was created with ingredients grown at the farm.

Allaire Community Farm has three pillars for its mission, Burney said: rescuing animals; helping special needs young adults and teens with mental health issues; and helping veterans with PTSD.

You can learn about all the farm's programs at its website, including about a petting zoo, agricultural training programs, a carriage riding program for veterans and more.

The main event sponsors were Fran and Paul Turner of Oceanport, whom Burney said are known for their support of nonprofits in the county.

"We had over 14 sponsors made up of businesses around Monmouth County," she added.

Tickets for the event were $200 each, and the event is so popular they were sold out in three days, Burney said.

And she estimated proceeds from the event to be $45,000.

The event took place in the sparking pavilion at Allaire Community Farm, and Burney said it was a fun evening with lots of interaction with the chefs.

There were three appetizers, for example, and "Joe Leone would give the guests a little history of the origin of the dish," Burney said, talking about how a dish might have developed in Italy, for example.

It all added to the festive and flavorful evening.

The guests were served such specialties as corn fritters, seared tuna, and an eggplant vegetarian dish. Dessert was pumpkin pudding and homemade cookies.

So lots of farm vegetables were put to good use for the menu, Burney noted.

The working farm is a resource in many way for the community.

For example, various initiatives include training for young adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, holiday events and more to connect the community with mental health services.

It has a large, high-tech greenhouse to the facility as part of a program to train IDD young adults in agriculture.

The farm is the site of a Mental Health Awareness Day event that links the community to many mental health resources.