St. Francis Dining Hall’s annual Mardi Gras Dinner and Auction
Sunday, February 10, 2013, 1:30 AM - 6:00 AM
St. Francis Dining Hall’s annual Mardi Gras Auction on Feb. 9 funds
dinners for hundreds of hungry homeless and low-income individuals. The Program offers nutritious meals and necessary services to many in need.
Nearly 200 people are expected to attend this year’s St. Francis Dining Hall Auction on Feb. 9 at the Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St. The event will benefit the dining hall that serves free dinners each weekday evening, Sundays and Holidays to homeless and low-income guests. The dining hall is located at 1131 SE Oak St., on the lower level of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
"The Mardi Gras Auction is our major fundraising event of the year,” says Megan Dunning, co-director of the dining hall. “Community support helps us serve 150 to 300 hot meals each day. The meals provide essential nutrition, and the additional services we offer address the other needs of the homeless and those who are among the one in five Oregonians who don’t have enough food to eat each day.”
“The dining hall opens at 10 a.m. to welcome guests and offer other services,” says co-director Becky O’Neil McBrayer. “Having a safe place, out of the cold and rain, where they can get a cup of coffee, use a phone and bathroom, take a shower, and get access to health care makes a major difference for many in our community who lack the resources to meet their basic needs.”
Tickets for the dinner and auction are $75 per person and can be reserved by calling 503-232-5880. The silent auction starts at 5:30 p.m. while guests enjoy beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Dinner is served at 7, and the oral auction starts at 7:45. Dancing will follow the auction, with music provided by Reggie Houston's Box of Chocolates.
“The economic downturn in the past few years increased the need for the dining hall’s services,” said Rachel Klein, chair of the auction committee, “and it also made it more difficult for our donors to be as generous as they might like. This year we’ve gotten a wonderful response from businesses that have donated great items, so we’re expecting a great auction. But space is limited. We encourage people to call and reserve their tickets as soon as possible.”
About St. Francis Dining Hall
St. Francis Dining Hall serves nutritious meals to hungry people every weekday at 5 p.m., and at 3:30 on Sundays and Holidays. For many of the hundreds of homeless and low-income guests it serves, the Dining Hall meal is key to connecting them with a support community. In addition to the meals served, St. Francis Dining Hall opens its doors at 10 a.m. weekdays to welcome low-income and homeless guests to a safe, out-of-the-weather space where they can sit down, enjoy a cup of coffee, access lockers and bathrooms, use the telephone, get personal care items, sign up to volunteer and find comfort in being part of a welcoming, supportive community.
Cost: $75 per person
Venue
615 SE Alder Street
Portland, OR
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