The Edwardsburg Leos hosted a “Progressive Dinner in the Dark” to raise money to attend the Lions District Convention. Diners experienced what it would be like to eat without being able to see. (Submitted photo)

Trusting someone to help you eat without being able to see can be a daunting experience.

However, the Edwardsburg Leos pulled it off with their inaugural “Dinner in the Dark,” which was held Friday at the Edwardsburg Presbyterian Church.

“The Leos put in a lot of service hours to be able to go to the Lions District Convention,” Edwardsburg Lions Club President Tanda Stiffler said. “Taking as many as 16 Leo students from Edwardsburg Public Schools can be a huge expense. Advisor Amy Anderson worked with the Leos to come up with a way they could fundraise so they could go.”

What they came up with was a unique experience different from any other offered in the Edwardsburg area — a “Progressive Dinner in the Dark.”

The Leos pre-sold tickets at $15 per person. There were still 80 tickets available leading up to the dinner, but were sold by the day of the event and they were still fielding phone calls Friday inquiring about tickets.

In all, the group sold 84 tickets for the grilled chicken dinner with mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, rolls, salad and an ice cream dessert.

“The event was a ‘progressive’ evening in the dark and the guests really engaged in experiencing what it would be like to eat a meal and not be able to see,” Stiffler said.

Linda McCain from the Niles Lions Club was the guest speaker. Her leader dog Disney is always with McCain, who was diagnosed legally blind at the age of five.

“As guests arrived the icicle lights were on two sides of the fellowship hall for dim lighting so guests could mingle and enjoy appetizers and their first course of salad,” Stiffler said. “Anderson then informed guests the next step of the progressive dinner would be dining without lights, but guests could still see slightly because nothing was covering their eyes.

“The Leos wore very small lights to be able to get around and bring food to the tables for the guests. The last challenge was the black blindfold covering their eyes to eat their dessert. Lions are well-known for their assisting those in need of eyeglasses, eye appointments and surgeries, and this group of 84 people found out just how difficult it is to try to eat a simple meal without sight.

“It was an amazing evening and lots of compliments were given to the Leos,” Stiffler said. “After all the guests were gone the Leos ate and shared laughter in the amazing evening they had and all the compliments they received at the tables they waited on.”