Funds raised for homeless relief
“Dinner In The Vineyard” a benefit to assist in underwriting Reach for Home, a local organization with a mission to find “Housing for People. Skills for Life,” was held in The Alexander Valley Hall last Saturday night.
Colleen Carmichael, executive director of Reach for Home, feels confident that the live action, silent auction, fund a need and dinner raised more than their goal.
Along with her staff, Ana Rangel and Rick Cafferata, with additional planning by Jane Wood, Beth Greenwald, Katie Ambrosi, Katie Murphy, Rosa Reynoza, Sharon Roper, Leslie Simmons, Mona Hanes, Pam Larson, and Rita Loskill.
The Reach for Home board of directors, Tom Hartfield, Andrew Biehl, Doralice Handal, Mona Hanes, Henry Hersch, Pam Moulton, Sharon Roper, Rosa Reynoza, Helen Boyer, Marcus Cano, Fred Karlan and Bill Halliday helped make the event an incredible success, according to Carmichael.
A tiny house built by Linus Lancaster, a teacher at Healdsburg High School, along with two of his students, was purchased for $300 by Carolyn Lewis. Lancaster’s students will design and build several during this school year; he was elated by Lewis’ praise of his prototype.
Lewis is also a supporter. She purchased a large home in Cloverdale for transitional housing, where two families started, one graduated, and one more will share their former place.
With the help of YourTinyFarm, tenants share in the bounty of vegetables and fresh eggs from chickens. Lewis is hoping to buy a second home to assist people in their journey to a life that will eventually include more income and their own apartment.
Next to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is an apartment complex owned by the City of Healdsburg and managed by Reach for Home that also offers “housing first” programs.
According to Carmichael, there were about 165 people at the event, several coming up from the Bay Area. Music was played by Emily Lois.
The Reverend Sally Hanes Hubbell, Rector of St. Paul’s spoke of the struggles and successes of Reach for Home, which she said has been given enormous support in its conception and continuation.
Hubbell said grace prior to dinner. Carmichael spoke about the many goals of Reach for Home. “When people in the community like Carolyn Lewis, who continues to underwrite her support — these caring people are part of the solution because they take action. This is how we end homelessness.”
The auctioneer, Devon Bell kept the action moving with humor during the live auction.
More information about Reach for Home is at www.reachforhome.org.
