Walk on the Wild Side

Walk on the Wild Side - A group of people posing for a photo - Social group

Spicy fashion show boosts Sister Season Fund

Ever wonder what happens when your local bartender falls, breaks a leg, and can’t work for a couple weeks while recuperating? Sister Season Fund probably stepped up and helped with rent and utilities. Giving more than $300,000 to local service industry workers in Key West, Sister Season Fund is there to help.

Julie Hanson, president of the fund, knows the process well. She was a recipient in 2005 after ending up in the hospital for nine days with double pneumonia “I was so stressed out, I thought I was going to have to leave the island,” she said, as a full time stylist at Hot Cuts and part-time server at Key West Yacht Club. “Someone called and told me I had to get hold of Sister Season Fund, and within 48 hours they voted on it and helped me with my rent.”

“I wanted to pay it forward,” she said, joining the group as a volunteer, then as a board member, and now president. “Ninety percent of our population is in some sort of hospitality business, be it hotel workers, musicians or taxi drivers.”

That’s when the fund’s biggest fundraiser of the year comes into play. The spicy fashion show will have 20 local models showing off the fashions of 10 local stores on Sunday, March 19 at 6:30 p.m. at The Southernmost House. The event is $30 per person and includes appetizers and door prizes.

“Sister Season Fund is an all-volunteer board,” said Hanson. “We have no office space and minimal overhead, so basically every penny is going to local workers in need.”

The event will be emceed by Mulysa Gard with entertainment by some of Key West’s famous drag queens. The event has sold out in the past. “It’s going to be fun and very interesting,” said Hanson. “We hope to see everyone out there – locals helping locals.”

TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE FASHION SHOW

Southernmost House, Key West

Sunday, March 19

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., show at 6:30

Tickets: $30, keystix.com

Local stores participating in the fashion show include: Terra Nova, Isles Styles, Sargasso, Graffiti, LuLaRoe, Jolie Boutique, Mix Mercantile, Madison Ave, and French Kiss.

Kristen Livengood is a Marathon High School and University of South Florida grad, mom of two beautiful little girls, and wife to some cute guy she met in a bar. She enjoys red wine, Tito's, Jameson, running (very, very slowly), and spearfishing.