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In March, Junior Service League of LaGrange was forced to cancel the third annual Taste of The Town, just 11 days shy of the event, due to the state’s strict social distancing guidelines and restrictions surrounding COVID19, according to a news release from the league.

Taste of The Town is LaGrange’s first and only food festival highlighting local restaurants and the food service industry in the community. Each year, JSL of LaGrange donates the proceeds to a local nonprofit. The beneficiary for this year was Safe Families for Children West Georgia.

Safe Families is a program of Twin Cedars Youth & Family Services that partners with the church to temporarily care for at-risk children while strengthening families in crisis.

According to the news release, vendors and sponsors were already secured at the time of the cancelation. JSL of LaGrange gave each vendor and sponsor the option of a full refund or to donate their entry fee to Safe Families for Children.

“We were so shocked at the amount of vendors and sponsors who were willing to donate their entry fees, especially given the hardships most businesses were facing at the time,” Nicole Spivey, JSL president said. “It truly shows the spirit of our community. Because of the generosity shown by the vendors and sponsors, the Junior Service League was able to donate $5,219.45 to Safe Families for Children.”

The vendors scheduled for the event include: Dixie Donuts, Frios Gourmet Pops, Kona Ice of LaGrange, Cakes By Debbie, Tulla White Catering, Mama G’s African Cuisine, Brickhouse Grille, The Original Po-Boy City, Northern Exposure Coney Island, Crave Cookie Company, Holloway’s Pork Skins, Marco’s Pizza, Supper At Home, Y’all, C’Sons, 505 Eats, Your Pie, Wild Leap Brew Co., Kettleworks, Hawaiian Ice, Taqueria Estrella Roja, Starbucks Coffee- LaGrange and G.O.A.T’s Food Truck.

The sponsors for the event include WellStar West Georgia Medical Center, KIA of LaGrange, Interface, BB&T Statewide Mortgage Group and Junior Service League of LaGrange Sustainers.