Benefit dinner, show aid shelter operations

Monday, April 18, 2011
Former Greencastle Mayor Mike Harmless (above, seated right) plays Charlie Sheen with wife Susie as one of his "goddesses" during a skit from "Friday Night Live!," a fundraiser for the A-Way Home Shelter.

Tad Robinson sang the blues like he was sweet home Chicago, baby. Warren Macy out-grumped Andy Rooney on his best-worst day. The Fret Set fed everyone a generous portion of "Homegrown Tomatoes."

And Mayor Sue Murray ... she deserves some kind of medal for maintaining good-sport status despite emerging as the focal point of a racy Macy-penned skit (undoubtedly brought to you by the letters M and X).

Approximately 200 local residents broke bread, enjoyed great music and witty comedy, and aided the A-Way Home Shelter along the way in a benefit event staged Friday night at the Inn at DePauw.

The night also included music from Greencastle bluesman Tad Robinson and The Fret Set band.

The inherent dichotomy of the evening certainly hit home with A-Way Home Executive Director Debbie Zigler.

"We all have had plenty to eat and drink and everyone's enjoyed a great show," she said in summarizing the evening. "But 15 people staying at the shelter tonight don't have that, and that's what this is all about."

Zigler, of course, was talking about the A-Way Home Shelter located at Franklin and Locust streets (at the old IGA store site) in Greencastle.

She then shared the heart-tugging story of a mother and five children who were forced to call the shelter home for an extended period a couple of years ago. Initially her situation became even more exasperating when she and the staff realized the woman was pregnant with child No. 6.

After more than nine months at the shelter, the woman slowly put her life back in order. She went back to school, got a job and landed on her feet in subsidized housing. There's even a husband in the picture now, Zigler said.

The Fret Set band, composed of Bill Lorton, Larry Kersey, Richard Smock and (not pictured) Don Bowlby.

And the little boy who was born at the shelter, learned to think of Zigler as the grandmother he never had, and took his first steps there, will be entering Deer Meadow Primary School in the fall.

It is just one of many positive stories Zigler can share.

"So don't forget about us after tonight," she urged. "We've all had fun and enjoyed the show, but the people at the shelter still exist after all that.

"Put the love you have in this room into action for the shelter."

It was noted that even small donations to the shelter can mean big things to those in need. Such as:

-- $15 can provide one hour of complete operations at A-Way Home.

-- $25 will allow one domestic violence victim to have one night of safety and security.

-- $45 can provide telephone service for 36 people to check on jobs or housing.

-- $90 can provide overnight security for 36 people.

-- $475 can provide electrical service for one month.

-- $950 can provide water and sewer service for three months.

-- $1,200 can provide gas heat for cooking and hot water for six months.

-- $3,000 can provide food, shelter and a safe, comfortable bed for a parent and three children for 30 days

-- $5,250 can provide food, shelter and a safe, comfortable bed for the shelter's average number of residents per day for 15 days.

-- $7,500 can provide food, shelter and a safe, comfortable bed for 10 people for 30 days.

-- $12,000 can provide water, sewer, electric and gas service for 36 people for one full year.

And overall, as Zigler noted, any donation to the shelter can generate that "feeling of knowing you have helped others during their time of need -- priceless!"

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