Beyond Homeless benefit show set Saturday at Wasser

When they could be out at other gigs of their own, as many as 25 area musicians will instead be donating their time to raise money and awareness for Beyond Homeless Inc. this Saturday at Wasser Brewing Co.

As a culmination to National Hunger and Homeless Awareness week, the downtown brew pub will be hosting the third annual Hope for the Homeless benefit concert from 7-10 p.m. with a number of special guests highlighting the bill.

Local favorites Joel and LaToshia Everson will serve as hosts for the evening, with acts that include their band War Radio, Gus Moon, Bryan Langdoc, Julianna Goldsmith and Istvan Csicsery-Ronay, Chris Wurster and Mike VanRensselaer, Jesse Samm and Krystal Becker, Ron Dye and John Bean with Dale and Ella and more to be announced.

By the time you add up the backing artists, collaborators and sound man Josh Query, organizers estimate at least two dozen members of the local music community will be donating their time and talent.

There is no entry fee for the show, but donations will be accepted, with all proceeds benefiting Beyond Homeless in its fight to help the homeless in the community and prevent homelessness whenever possible.

Reservations are recommended by calling Wasser at 844-927-7371.

Wasser Brewing Co. is located at 102 E. Franklin St.

Wasser owners Chris and Angie Weeks are proud to again be hosting the event and supporting what they see as a worthy cause in the community.

“That’s what’s great about this community — there’s a history of support of this cause,” Angie Weeks said. “I believe in community if we bond together as community leaders, we can make a difference.”

It will also be a fitting conclusion to new Beyond Homeless Executive Director Lea Durbin’s first week on the job. She’s excited to be part of an event that’s about just getting people out and letting them give.

“I have been in the world of non-profits and doing galas,” she said. “You have to sell tickets. Here, you just come and take part.”

While part of the point of Saturday is having a good time, no one is shying away from the serious issue that homelessness is in Putnam County.

The mission of Beyond Homeless is to empower the homeless of Putnam County to become self-sufficient and the prevent homelessness in the community.

The shelter has four rooms with a maximum occupancy of 24 residents. The current census is six residents. The shelter houses only women and children, which is a model best practice for residents fleeing from domestic violence situations.

Since opening in 2014, the shelter has provided service to 371 women and 154 children for roughly 20,200 “bed nights.”

That equates to 55 “years” of service when divided by 365.

The organization does more than simply provide shelter, though, such as its homeless prevention program.

“We do case management for people who may have had an unexpected emergency,” board President Doug Cox said. “Our funds for that are limited but we work closely with the township trustees to see how we can help these people.”

Case management is also available for men, even though the shelter itself cannot provide them housing. Beyond Homeless also helps male clients with transportation to other shelters, food, toiletries and other needs.

Through the Beyond Homeless Thrift Store, located at 814 N. Jackson St., Greencastle, there is also clothing provided to families in need.

“We have a voucher system in which if people are truly in need, we help them with clothing,” Cox said.

The organization has also started providing emergency clothing closets to schools. There is already one at Tzouanakis Intermediate, and Durbin is reaching out to other schools.

Donations on Saturday evening will go to these programs and so much more.

Wasser will also have a pasta special, which actually began Thursday night. All proceeds from sales of the special will be donated to Beyond Homeless.

It all helps fight a problem that isn’t going away, but one that organizers are glad to continue to fight.

Cox credits those whose vision it was to get a homeless shelter restarted in Greencastle more than five years ago, including John Dittmer, Bob Sedlack, Bill Wieland and the late Walker Gilmer.

“This was their vision and we opened in March of 2014,” Cox said.

Beyond Homeless is located at 309 E. Franklin St., Greencastle, and can be reached at 765-301-9263.