The first Saturday in November has become special to Severe Weather Shelter Network. For the last 5 Novembers we have hosted our fall fundraising event called Refuge from the Cold.
The event is not exactly your traditional dinner banquet. We have always felt like it would be outside of our character as an organization and ministry to host an expensive event. We shelter people living on the streets, who often don’t have enough to eat and are looking for a safe, warm place to spend the night. How then, could we in good conscience host a fancy event focused on those we shelter?
Instead we have looked to our partner churches to help us host a nice event collaboratively. We are privileged to be partnering again this November 3rd with Bethlehem Lutheran Church. They are one of our big church partners. Bethlehem Lutheran gives us use of their bus to transport our guests on shelter nights, they are supportive financially and with wonderful volunteer support. The heart of Bethlehem beats for our brothers and sisters living on the streets and is given voice through The Table on Thursday nights when they host dinner and worship for people experiencing homelessness. It is a beautiful time of fellowship, worship and good, simple meals.
We look to another partner to help identify our speaker for the evening. This year we asked Colorado Coalition for the Homeless who might be available to share with us. I am so pleased to share that their CEO John Parvensky offered to speak to us. Together we decided John would focus on something he knows a lot about…collaboration. John understands the importance of organizations, agencies and communities all working together to address needs beyond the capacity of just one.
Each year we have included See the Need Fund the Need allowing our dinner guests to purchase necessary items for our shelter guests. The generosity has been wonderful to see as our dinner guests have made it possible for us to purchase sleeping bags, backpacks, boots and other items that are often stolen or worn out over the course of a shelter season. Our shelter guests are so grateful!
This year we have replaced the Silent Auction with a Raffle. We will have 6-7 Raffle packages for our dinner guests to potentially win. I will share here just a couple of examples to peek your curiosity!
- Summer Weekend in Keystone
- A night at the Brown Palace
- Sports package, including tickets to a Rockies game and other sports opportunities
Each package has an average value of $300. Each dinner guest will receive 1 Raffle ticket as a thank you for attending. Additional tickets may be purchased for $10 each to increase your chances of winning. You must be present to win.
I hope the biggest reason you will join us is to allow us to continue providing life saving shelter in these winter months. The truth is that there is no other emergency shelter in Jefferson County. Your financial gifts are very appreciated by our shelter guests each time the are welcomed into our host sites, receive a warm meal and a warm, dry place to spend the night.
Click here to reserve your seats today!
I look forward to welcoming you and your friends as we celebrate together:
Saturday, November 3, 2018 6-8:30 pm
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 2100 Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood CO 80214
Doors will open at 5:30 pm
Lynn Ann Huizingh
Executive Director