Giving Closet, Hospitality Academy host fundraising banquet

Meadow Homes — The Giving Closet, a charity for the very poor, was transformed into a stylish banquet hall to host a fundraising dinner March 1. The dinner was catered by the International Air and Hospitality Academy, the student team of instructor Alex Soderlund and chef J.D. Thomas of the Northwest Culinary Institute. More than $35,000 was raised — including one anonymous challenge donation of $5,000 — and will help grow The Giving Closet’s educational efforts, such as G.E.D. preparation and K-12 tutoring. About 120 people attended the event.