Local business owners, in conjunction with the Middleburg Business and Professional Association, are working to bring the community together for a special night in support of Project Hope and the victims of the Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami.

The event, "Project Helping Hands," will begin at 7:30 pm on February 9 at the Middleburg Community Center.

Project Helping Hands will be a full evening offering something for everyone: great food, a live auction, a silent auction, and a big-screen television viewing of Bravo Channel's Project Runway–a reality-based TV show in which Middleburg resident Wendy Pepper is a contestant.

According to the Finicky Filly's Judy Casey, local churches and restaurants will be donating coffee, baked goods, beer, wine and more. Casey also said that many of the Town's business owners gladly reached into their own pockets to donate special items for the silent auction.

"I don't know what everyone else will be donating," said Casey, "but I can tell you that the Finicky Filly will be donating jewelry."

In addition to the silent auction, there will also be a live auction with just one special item on the block–a limited edition, numbered dress designed by Wendy Pepper during the third episode of Project Runway. Pepper's design won the competition and was produced in a special limited edition by Banana Republic. "They only made 200 of these dresses," said Pepper. "They put it online and it sold out in three hours. It was quickly up on E-bay as 'a rare piece of fashion history'."

Pepper is very excited about the prospect of influencing the direction of American fashion. She will be present at Project Helping Hands and hopes to watch the February 9 episode with the entire community at her side. She said she looks forward to sharing her experiences on the show with her neighbors and will make herself available to answer any and all questions that anyone might have for her.

"I love to opine about anything," said Pepper, in anticipation of the night.

The TV show will air from 9 pm to 10 pm, and the episode that night will determine the competition's three finalists. Although Pepper can't say if she makes the cut, she hopes everyone possible comes to watch, have a great time, and raise funds for such a worthy cause.

According to Dee Dee Hubbard, who spearheaded the event with Judy Casey and Laurie Root, every ingredient going into Project Helping Hands to make the evening a success is being donated by community members.

With no additional fundraising costs this means 100 percent of the dollars raised during the event can be given to Project Hope. "I think this will be the first time the businesses and the residents of the town have all gotten together like this," said Casey.

According to the event's planners, Project Hope was chosen as the organization to receive the funds raised both because of the tremendous humanitarian effort they put forth, and because they're locally based, in Millwood, Virginia, not far from Winchester.

Project Hope was founded in 1958 by Dr. William Walsh. According to Project Hope's current President and CEO, John P. Howe, M.D., "The founder spoke with President Eisenhower and shared the observation that around the world many people did not understand or like Americans." Howe explained that this discussion immediately followed publication of the classic, The Ugly American. "Eisenhower explained that the remedy could be found in creating people-to-people programs," continued Howe.

Thus, the USS Hope, a Navy medical supply ship, was converted for the use of Project Hope. The new ship made its maiden voyage to Indonesia in 1960. In the mid-1970s, said Howe, Project Hope became a land-based organization, helping people help themselves.

Project Hope is currently active in 34 countries around the world and concentrates on human aid and health professional training. "To date, we have trained over two million health professionals and distributed over $1 billion–that's billion with a B–in medical supplies," said Howe, "all due to the generosity of the American people."

Project Hope was already on the ground in Thailand and Indonesia when the tsunami hit and is still there helping to provide relief and aid. "This is a short-term sprint, in a long-distance marathon," said Howe, "and Project Hope plans to be there for the long haul."

The recent tsunami has already claimed well over 160,000 lives and has affected many more. Not only do the people of the devastated lands need help finding and burying their lost loved ones, but they will also be struggling for a long time to fend off the threat of water, air, and insect-born disease. Recovery from the emotional impact of the disaster may take longer still.

It is sometimes difficult to fathom making a difference in such a vast disaster, but Project Hope is bent on doing just that, starting with training health care professionals, organizing relief efforts and lending a hand wherever it is needed. Every one of us can help, too, on a smaller scale, and collectively it can make a big difference.

We invite you to join the community for Project Helping Hands on February 9. Admission is $25 per person. 100% of the money taken in at the event will go to Project Hope.

What could be better? Spend an evening partaking in fine food and drink, getting caught up in the action of an auction, watching reality TV that can determine the future of one of your neighbors and raise money for a great humanitarian effort, all at once. For more information, call 540-687-3200.