A mouth-watering event recently paired up with the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation to serve up support for local health care.

The inaugural Savour the Okanagan wine and culinary event raised $2,190 towards the VJH’s Tower of Care Campaign, Phase II.

Presented by the Prestige Hotels & Resorts (Vernon) and Bourbon Street Bar & Grill, the event showcased the Okanagan’s finest wines, beer and spirits, as well as locally sourced, organic food pairings.

“We were excited to feature more than 20 wineries, beer, spirits and cider from all over the Okanagan,” said Lisa Grant, convention and sales manager for The Prestige.

Bourbon Street Bar And Grill’s Chef Inna Turchin prepared Okanagan inspired hors d’oeuvres and canapés, showcasing delectable local ingredients.

A silent auction was held with items donated from participating wineries, the Prestige and Bourbon Street, including a cooking class for eight with Chef Inna, a two-night stay at the Prestige Oceanfront Resort in Sooke, and wine-themed gift baskets.

Local musician Steve Todd rounded out the festivities, performing many crowd-pleasing favorites.

“We are very fortunate to have such tremendous community support,” said Sue Beaudry, director of development for the Foundation.

“VJH Foundation would like to thank the generosity of The Prestige and Bourbon Street Bar and Grill for taking the initiative to make this fabulous event a reality.

“We also would like to thank the many beverage suppliers who donated their time and products for the tastings and silent auction. Musician Steve Todd added just the right atmosphere to a fun, festive evening.”

Funds raised for the Tower of Care campaign will help furnish and equip the sixth and seventh floors of Polson Tower.

The $2.5 million campaign will add 60 new state-of-the-art inpatient care beds and vital medical equipment to VJH.

“I am pleased that nine months into this campaign, with donations and multi-year pledges, Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation has raised more than $1.5 million of its commitment,” said Beaudry.

This project will bring the best possible patient care and family support to VJH.

Sixty new beds will help alleviate current overcapacity issues while transitioning to single and double patient rooms.

It will not only help with better infection control that leads to faster recovery times, but will allow for more privacy, room for medical equipment, and space for family visits.