Men’s Warming Shelter Hosting Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser

(BEDFORD) – The Men’s Warming Shelter of Bedford is hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser event at Harp Commons on Saturday, September 28th.

Tickets are $10 per person or $25 for a family of four.

On the menu is spaghetti with meat or plain sauce, bread, salad, tea, lemonade or water.

Tickets can be purchased at Copy Trolley, Bedford Federal Savings Bank, the Times Mail and Bedford Chamber of Commerce. 

The event will be moved to St. Vincent Shamrock Center and the First Christian Church if the weather turns bad.

There will be a silent auction, corn hole tournament and bake sale.

Many area churches are helping provide food, fun, and volunteer to help during the event, says Jennifer Richason, an organizer for the event.

All of the proceeds will go towards operational expenses at the Men’s Shelter. 

“We are looking for someone or a group of people who are craftsmen to take on a project that would allow us to hang lights above the tables,” added Richason.

Any churches who would like to get involved and anyone who is interested in donating to the event can email  menswarmingshelterofbedford@gmail.com

Depending on the weather, the shelter plans to open in November.  Father Rick Eldred of says he would like the shelter to be open all year, but funds will not allow that at this time.

The Warming Center operates out of the old Salvation Army building at the corner of 17th and K streets. The building offers one entire floor as sleeping quarters, while the basement is used as a gathering and dining area. Meeting rooms also are available for consultations.

“We are also looking out towards the future of the men’s shelter as we will need to relocate in 2021,” says Richason.

With the assistance of Centerstone, the center is more than just a place to secure shelter from the cold.

The building offers one entire floor as sleeping quarters, while the basement is used as a gathering and dining area. Meeting rooms also are available for consultations.

Area churches provide meals and clothing for those visiting the center. Guests can check in each day at 7 p.m. but must depart by 7 a.m. the next morning. While there, they receive a hot meal, assistance and can take a hot shower and wash their clothes.

Eldred believes the community needs to be better educated on the local homeless population.

“There are so many misconceptions about the homeless. Most are not drunks, and they’re not lazy,” he insisted. “Most of them simply have fallen behind and can’t make ends meet. It happens more often than people realize.

You can help make a difference – The center has an account set up for monetary donations at Bedford Federal Savings Bank. Other contributions can be dropped off at the St. Vincent Thrift Store, please note the donation is for the warming shelter.