Good Samaritans of Garland, Inc. (Good Sam) will present their annual Murder Mystery Dinner & Silent Auction Saturday, March 4, at the Atrium at 300 North Fifth Street in downtown Garland. The show promises to be fun and entertaining with a cast comprised of Garland Chamber of Commerce CEO, Paul Mayer; Garland City Manager Emeritus, Bryan Bradford; John Wiseman; Tiffany LeMay; Libby Odom; Dorothy White; Kimberly Loyd; and Merrill Balanciere.
Teria Bradford, Good Sam’s director of development, provided a brief description of the mystery. It’s called “Some Anniversary,” and is about a couple that is celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. Members of the family are invited to speak at the party. Some like the couple, and some maybe not so much. One of them ends up being murdered.
It will be like the game of Clue. Each table will have a map of the anniversary party venue and an opportunity to ask questions to try to solve the murder.
“It’s going to be hilarious,” she said.
In addition to the murder mystery, silent auction and fabulous dinner, you’ll be helping Good Sam celebrate 40 years of feeding, helping and serving the community. The silent auction begins at 6 p.m. and dinner and the show start at 6:45 p.m.
The silent auction donations are great this year. There are items autographed by pro athletes, jewelry, art, wine tasting for 10 and much more.
Good Sam needs event sponsors as the Murder Mystery Dinner & Silent Auction event is one of their main fundraisers. Levels of sponsorships include:
- Tickets are $100.00 per person. Seats will be assigned and are limited. Purchase tickets together to ensure sitting with another individual.
- Presenting Sponsorship (2 tables of 10) – $12,500
- Victim Sponsorship (1 table of 10) – $6,000
- Detective Sponsorship (1 table of 10) – $3,000
- WhoDunIt Sponsorship (1 table of 10) – $1,500
- Cash donations, as well as donations for the silent auction, are also appreciated.
A large portion of Good Sam’s funding comes from fundraising efforts like this one. And the need for helping hungry and food-insecure families and individuals in Garland, Rowlett and Sachse is increasing at an astonishing rate. The lingering effects of the pandemic, as well as current inflation rates, continue to make it difficult for many to make ends meet.
Bradford said that the number of families the organization is now feeding is 2,500-3,000 per month. In 2019, the number of families per month was 645.
“The need is huge,” she said. “In 2022, over a million pounds of food went through this 2,100 square foot house, and it will increase this year.”
Bradford added that they are seeing 160 families per day and that 30-40 of those are new families. The rise in the number of families served not only increases the amount of food needed. It also increases the amount of operations expenses such as packaging materials, equipment, utilities and more.
Order your tickets today! You’ll enjoy an evening of laughter and fellowship along with great show and dinner while helping Good Sam feed, help and serve the community.
Click HERE for more information, to purchase tickets, donate funds or auction items, become an event sponsor or contact Good Sam.