OCEAN CITY -- While they may call themselves “Real Housewives,” a group of Worcester County women only have charitable aims.

“We’re the good housewives … we’re the giving housewives,” joked Real Housewives of Worcester County (RHWC) member Stephanie Meehan in reference to the less than altruistic tendencies of the casts of Bravo’s popular “Real Housewives” series.

Formed three years ago as a charitable outlet for a group of longtime friends, RHWC has nearly a dozen members and since its origin has partnered with non-profit group Coastal Hospice at the Ocean to raise money and awareness for the organization through the “Taste of Finer Things” benefit dinner.

“We’ve been doing volunteer work for a longtime together,” said Meehan of her colleagues.

Because RHWC has adopted the pear as its mascot, A Taste of Finer Things will “pear” together area chefs and wines for a community fundraising dinner on March 29. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. and hosted for the second consecutive year at Harrison’s Harbor Watch, Finer Things will include dishes from 14 different local restaurants, the majority of which will be seafood, as well as a companion wine for each course. Meehan noted that the original event was held at The Embers restaurant in Ocean City.

Tickets run $75 per person, with proceeds going toward Coastal Hospice at the Ocean. Additional funding will come from a raffling of crystal goblets from Kuhn’s Jewelers.

“It’s very social,” said Meehan of the event. “I talk to people I never get to talk to.”

According to Meehan, Finer Things is RHWC’s attempt to produce a unique fundraising experience for Coastal Hospice that participants will genuinely enjoy and actively strive to return to year after year.

“You can’t let it get boring,” she said of the event and fundraising in general.

As for why RHWC chose Coastal Hospice, Meehan explained that every member of her group has a connection to the non-profit organization.

“We’ve all had family members and friends who’ve used Coastal Hospice. This event is a great way to raise awareness in the community,” she said. “We’ve all been touched in some way.”

Founded in 1980, Coastal Hospice provides traditional hospice services, palliative care, bereavement support, education and training to several counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, according to the group’s website. The organization’s main headquarters are in Salisbury. However, they are also in the process of generating funding for a facility near Berlin.

The Coastal Hospice site also claims a 99 percent satisfaction rate from service users and lists the biggest complaint from clients as not becoming involved in a hospice program sooner.

Meehan agreed that the organization is an asset for patients hoping for comfort and care when facing terminal situations.

“It’s really important for our area,” said Meehan.

Events like Finer Things wouldn’t be possible, she added, if not for the giving nature of Worcester County.

“The business community here is the most giving community,” Meehan said.

She pointed out that Finer Things is “all local, all donated time” and hopes that the event will continue to foster the partnership between RHWC and Coastal Hospice for many years to come.

“We’re very fortunate to live in an area like this,” said Meehan.
For more information or tickets to the event, contact 410-742-8732 or go to coastalhospice.org.