It’s a dinner to make a difference.
Tonight at 6 p.m. at St. Ann’s Hall is the annual delectable fundraiser for the Discovery House men’s recovery centre.
According to house manager Jerome Abraham, who is also one of Discovery’s many success stories, in addition to helping financially, the evening also gives the public an opportunity learn about the work the facility does and meet the people it helps.
The six-bed residential centre, which relies entirely on private funding, has been in operation for nearly seven years and helped over 120 individuals.
“This (dinner) is a chance for people to learn a little bit about the house and the guys who are in it,” said Abraham. “We generally have a speaker who is one of the guys who is in the house or been through it.”
Discovery House is managed by the Penticton Recovery Resource Society.
According to Abraham, the clients residing at the facility do the meal preparation, which as the name implies, is usually a hearty offering of local produce.
“We also try to keep the ticket price low ($15) because Discovery house was started on $10 spaghetti dinners and a lot of our supporters are people on pensions and people like that,” said Abraham who added a few seats are still available.
Unfortunately there is a growing need for the services provided at the Wade Street centre, which currently has seven names on its waiting list.
Abraham hopes people at the dinner will consider making monthly contributions which will help with future plans to move into larger quarters.
“But we will happily accept anything or any help people are willing to donate,” he said. “Our ultimate goal is to get a women’s house as well. There is a critical need for one here because right now there isn’t anything, there’s some in Kelowna but that’s it.”
Because of the kind of care and, in particular the follow up service, Discovery boasts a success rate of more than double that of other similar programs.
Abraham uses himself as a prime example.
“I was here close to four years ago for about a year and it saved my life,” he said. “Knowing where I came from, I wouldn’t be alive today.”
For more information Abraham can be reached at 250-462-1388.