OAKHURST — The community is invited to come together for the next Helping One Woman (HOW) Oakhurst dinner. This month’s dinner honors Mariah Smith, a lifelong mountain area resident. All proceeds go directly to Mariah to support her ongoing recovery.

A Glimpse of Mariah’s Story

Join the community in supporting Mariah at this special event. (Click to Enlarge)

Mariah Smith grew up in North Fork and moved to Oakhurst when she was 16. A lifelong resident of the mountain community, Mariah has called this region home her entire life.

Unfortunately, Mariah experienced a severe car accident on December 29th, 2024, while visiting her sister in Washington for the holidays. Mariah spent two months in the hospital, much of it in a coma, and underwent over 12 life-saving surgeries.

Her recovery is ongoing, with more procedures ahead that prevent her from returning to work. Mariah plays a vital role in her family’s business, The Rusty Piston, and her medical journey has caused significant physical, emotional, and financial strain.

In this challenging time, the community’s support would mean everything as Mariah begins her journey toward healing.

A Special Night of Giving

North Fork BBQ

To begin, this event is sponsored by Joy Wamsley, with Laura Gonzalez as the May Venue Sponsor. Attendees must purchase prepaid dinner, catered by North Fork BBQ, tickets at MYSOSEvent.com.

Additionally, attendees must provide a minimum $10 monetary gift at the door, payable in cash, check (made out to Mariah Smith), or Venmo. Every dollar collected will go directly to Mariah.

In addition to dinner, attendees can participate in a raffle, silent auction, and live auction, with all proceeds benefiting Mariah. Community members are encouraged to donate prizes or auction items by contacting a HOW leader for arrangements. At the end of the evening, Mariah will randomly draw the June HOW nominee.

Event Details

• RSVP Deadline: Saturday, May 17th at 11:00 p.m.
• Event Date: Tuesday, May 20th at 6:00 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
• Where: Oakhurst Community Center, Oakhurst, CA
• Cost: Purchase a dinner ticket (Prices vary)
• Additional Gift: Attendees must provide a minimum $10 monetary recipient gift at the door. All proceeds go directly to Mariah.

NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT THE DOOR, SO MAKE SURE TO RSVP AHEAD OF TIME.

HOW You Can Help

Community involvement is essential to making this event a success. Here’s how you can contribute:

• Attend the dinner by purchasing a prepaid ticket and making a monetary gift.
• Donate raffle or auction items to help raise additional funds for Mariah.
• Spread the word and invite friends, family, and colleagues to participate.

For more information, contact HOW Oakhurst Chapter leaders:

Why This Matters

Helping One Woman (HOW)

Helping One Woman is built on the belief that small acts of kindness can create a significant impact. The HOW motto emphasizes:

• One woman with $10.00 can buy another woman lunch
• Ten women with $10.00 can buy another woman’s groceries
• One hundred women with $10.00 can make a real difference in another woman’s life.

For more information about HOW, visit here.