There were enough enormous, colorful hats covering the Robert Mills gardens to be seen from space at the third annual Southern Garden and Hat Party. 

“There’s so many things today that are just – everything is casual,” said first-time attendee Marlene Sipes, praising the fundraiser party thrown by Midlands Orphan Relief. “It’s fun to have an event you can get dressed up and go to –and wear a hat.”

Many hats were handmade, such as Lanese Thomas’ ‘We love MOR’ hat with dolls on the brim and Peggy Linton’s last-minute flower pot extravaganza.  

“A lot of people came with a lot of very creative things last year,” Linton said. “I just got back from South Africa. I just put a flower pot on my head.”

The gentille, floral festivities on April 11 brought the local community together in support of a more serious issue: the lack of basic necessities provided to children in foster care and low-income situations. 

Midlands Orphan Relief was established three years ago as an extension of the Lowcountry Orphan Relief in Charleston. While the new branch has only three employees, their work impacts thousands of children each year. 

The organization relies on its donation center to provide clothing, shoes, books, toys, and toiletries to underprivileged kids. They distributed care packages chock-full of basic necessities to more than 2,000 children in the past year, distributing up to 50 per day around the beginning of the school year. They also have a program called “Just in Case Closets,” which has provided emergency clothing to some 1,500 children at Title I schools. 

The garden party, planned by Program Coordinator Christie Young, brings in another $20,000 of funding annually. 

“A lot of the time our supplies diminish, and we have some empty shelves,” Young said. “So we’re able to purchase sometimes with those funds when we need it.”

The highlight of the event was a fashion show of clothing donated through the group’s distribution center, modeled by 10 children who have benefitted from the organization.

While the focus is on the kids, the event gives back to the adults who make their work possible by volunteering their time and donating money and clothes. 

“It’s not a children’s event,” Young said. “We pretty much say ‘no children’ unless they are in the fashion show, because we want it to be a relaxing time for the ladies to enjoy themselves.”

Individuals paid a $60 admission and business groups, $450 for a table. More than 140 tickets were sold.

“We have a couple other speakers with some different stories, some sad, that will provoke emotion,” Young said. “We’re trying to reach the guests there in hopes that they will reach into their pockets, and, you know, help out the children.”

One speaker was Target employee Tristan Baker, who shared an emotional story of being orphaned and homeless as a child. 

“You are helping children who need things many of us use every day – underwear, shoes, hygiene items, even toys to play with,” Baker said. “Their needs are real. They are urgent and they matter.”

As Baker started to cry, eyes in the audience watered, too.

“Midlands Orphan Relief is here to meet those needs, one child at a time,” Baker said. “And when you pour into the organization, you are helping them provide dignity, comfort and hope. From someone who once stood on the receiving end of the generosity, I want to say ‘thank you.’”

Small tents surrounded the main marquee, with some displaying elaborate presentations of food by Scott Hall Catering. Other tables were for vendors and raffle ticket sales. Kendra Scott sold jewelry, and local business Made Together sold customizable gifts. But the most popular tent was easily the free mimosa stand. 

There was a wine pull offering mystery wine bottles worth up to $200. And raffle prizes included a $1,000 Delta flight credit, a brand-new Expert Grill, a basket of wine and cheese, a picnic set, jewelry and more. 

“I love being here,” Thomas said. “This organization, because it touches kids, here, just makes you feel good, and you can really feel like you’re making a difference.”