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Immanuel Homeless Shelter at Epworth to host fundraising dinner Jan. 20

January 10, 2014

Epworth United Methodist Church Immanuel Shelter, in collaboration with Touch of Italy and Bin 66, will host a fundraiser wine dinner at at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 20, at Touch of Italy restaurant, 19724 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach. The cost of the ticket will be $89 plus gratuity. To obtain a reservation for this event, call Touch of Italy at 302-212-0170.

Proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to help support the church’s efforts to feed and house homeless people in the Rehoboth Beach area during periods of severe winter weather conditions. Everyone in the beach community and the surrounding area is invited to this fundraising event.

According to Epworth United Methodist Church's the Rev. Vicky Starnes, senior pastor, “These conditions are the reality right here in the Rehoboth Beach area. On any given night, there are from 15 to 35 individuals and/or families that live in their vans, cars, or worse yet - in the street. We must do more than simply imagine these conditions. We are called to step up and say, 'No one should endure these conditions,” and take action to offer an alternative in the coldest months of winter."

The local Rehoboth Beach and Lewes churches are working together to offer Immanuel Shelter for the homeless this winter. Initially, Epworth was to conduct the shelter only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but due to another shelter’s inability to open this winter on the other four days of the week, Epworth and its cadre of volunteers have stepped up to try to fill the obvious need.

According to Nan Ruhl, project manager, due to the extended periods of brutally cold weather, and the lack of any other homeless shelter facilities in the Rehoboth Beach area, “Epworth has agreed to continue to help support us doing our as-needed emergency shelter work on weekdays.” Ruhl also said, “While the shelter is staffed and operated completely by volunteers, the additional costs for facilities, food and supplies, must be raised if Epworth Immanuel Shelter operations can continue to meet the needs of the homeless in our community.”

Founded in 2010 as a winter shelter, Immanuel Shelter has served more than 55 individuals since its inception. Local housing and economic trending as well as population analysis predict that the shelter could serve up to 70 individuals this winter alone. The Immanuel Shelter will be at Epworth United Methodist Church, 19285 Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth Beach. For more information go to www.eumcrb.org, email communications@epworth-rehoboth.org or contact the church office at 302-227-7743.

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