Natick Visiting Nurse Association (Natick VNA), the area’s premier free-standing, not-for-profit home health care agency, recently held its 9th annual Fresh Taste benefit at Elm Bank Reservation, Wellesley. The event, which showcased regional chefs who served signature dishes with fresh ingredients, netted nearly $60,000 to provide home health care to individuals throughout MetroWest.

Kelley Tuthill, WCVB reporter, served as event host, and Arlene Taros of Hopkinton, Judie Ham of Natick, and Sandy Joseph of Wellesley, were event co-chairs.

Major event sponsors included Roche Bros.; Wellesley Bank Charitable Foundation; the Jacobs Family Foundation; and Joan (Penny) Holmes.

Participating restaurants included:
• 3 Squares, Needham
• Blue on Highland, Needham
• Boston Gourmet Chefs, Framingham • British Beer Co., Framingham
• Captain Marden’s Seafoods, Wellesley
• Central Wharf, Coppersmith and Granary Tavern, Boston • Heritage of Sherborn, Sherborn
• Legal Seafoods, Framingham
• Mac’s Seafood, Wellfleet
• NM Café, Natick
• Peet’s Coffee and Tea, Wellesley
• Pepper’s Fine Catering, Northborough
• Sweet Basil, Needham
• The Cottage, Wellesley
• Water Fresh Farm, Hopkinton
• Whitney Place Assisted Living Residences, Natick
• Zaftig’s Delicatessen, Natick and Brookline
• Zoup!, Natick

Fifth Avenue Liquors, Framingham, provided wine tastings, and Jack’s Abbey of Framingham provided beer. Lighting and sound services were provided by Capron Lighting and Sound.

“We are so appreciative of the efforts put forth by all the event participants. Everyone who worked on this event – from our tireless co-chairs, participating restaurants, sponsors, donors and staff – made it a success,” said Judith Boyko, MBA, MS, RN, CEO of Natick VNA. “Through hard work and dedication, we were able to host another successful Fresh Taste and raise funds to help cover much-needed services for members of our community,” she added.

Natick VNA provides services to individuals in the following communities: Ashland, Auburndale, Dover, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Natick, Needham, Newton, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Wellesley, Westborough, and Weston.

Natick VNA is located at 209 West Central Street, Suite 313, Natick, Mass., 01760. For additional information, call 508-653-3081 or visit www.natickvna.org.

About Natick Visiting Nurse Association: The Natick VNA, which serves more than 20 towns in MetroWest, is the area’s premier free-standing, not-for-profit home health care agency. The Natick VNA helps patients of all ages live with the fullest degree of independence in their own homes, while benefiting from the agency’s state-of-the-art home telemonitoring technology, ComfortCare palliative care program, cold laser therapy, and other advanced services.