The Community House of Moorestown will host its fourth annual House Party on Friday, Sept. 8, an event that will include music, food, beer, wine, a cornhole tournament and a 50/50 raffle.
“It’s a fun event, but it’s also a critical fundraiser for us,” said Kathryn Distler, event co-chair. “People are coming, having fun, but also doing something really valuable in supporting us.”
Distler is also a volunteer at the Community House – a gathering place for individuals, families and organizations – and described the nonprofit as a special place that holds many memories, from birthday parties to breakfasts with Santa.
“For a lot of people, I know it’s also where we were first exposed to volunteerism, through parents and friends and the various organizations the Community House has hosted and supported over the years,” Distler noted.
“It means a lot to be able to give back, and it’s fun seeing so many people who grew up in town attending events at the Community House come back and get involved.”
The adults-only house party – an alternative to the nonprofit’s wine tasting fundraiser – is an opportunity for residents in Moorestown and surrounding communities to come together for a night out while kicking off the fall season.
“We have a few surprises planned,” Distler said. “I think it’s just become a really special event that people look forward to every year.”
The Community House earned a 2022 Historic Site Management matching grant of $34,163 earlier this year from the state’s Historic Trust, according to The Sun. The funds – a first for the Community House – will support a preservation plan by Westfield Architects in Haddon Heights to address the facility’s physical condition and maintenance. The firm will then make recommendations for ongoing maintenance and the Community House can apply for capital grants to address the issues.
Funds raised from the house party will go toward upkeep of the historic building, and Distler praised event co-chair Courtney Pantle, Executive Director Caryn Lynch and the nonprofit’s board members for all they do at Community House.
“It’s such an arrangement of passionate, generous, kind people,” Distler observed. “It’s been wonderful to meet new people, reconnect with people I grew up with, people I went to high school with … It’s been so much fun.”
The Community House’s current space of 25,000 square feet sits on 2.2 acres and includes office space for local groups, 40 rooms, a ballroom, meeting rooms and other amenities. For Distler, its events are two-fold: a chance for people to enjoy one another’s company and show support for a piece of the township’s fabric.
“It’s been incredible to see people rally around the Community House and allow us to keep it up and running, and, hopefully, it’ll be a special space for the community for another 100 years,” she said.
The Community House event will begin at 6:30 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://thecommunityhouse.com/house-party/.
