Hope's Wings to host 'An Evening of Hope' fundraiser

Blake Vickers, Richmond Register, Ky.
·2 min read

May 28—After two years away, hope returns to Madison County.

Set for June 10 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., "An Evening for Hope" is one of two yearly fundraisers overseen by the Hope's Wings Domestic Violence Program.

Since 2006, Hope's Wings has been serving Madison County and its surrounding area — offering everything from emergency and transitional housing for victims of domestic violence to community education and counseling.

"An Evening for Hope" will feature a BBQ dinner at Chenault Vineyards. Sonny's BBQ will be catering this year. But brisket isn't the only thing visitors can expect. There will be a cash bar as well as dancing, a big fireworks show, and live music from The Dooley Gang.

As the event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, the stakes are particularly high this year.

"It's kind of tough. Cancelling that fundraiser that last two years has put us $60,000 down in fundraising dollars. So that means we're $60,000 short in our general budget for the shelter and we have to get creative to make sure everything's covered," said Jennifer Lainhart, executive director of Hope's Wings. "The fundraiser this year is a big deal. Hopefully we can play some catch up... Everything's been put on hold with Covid, I think everyone is ready to get out and be with each other again. I know we are."

Lainhart said that events like "An Evening for Hope" or Jail and Bail (Hope's Wings' other yearly fundraiser) are good ways to spread the word about the shelter.

"We love spending time with our supporters and the people around the community. We want them to know that we're in Madison County and we're a resource for them and it amazes me how often I can go out and people don't realize that Madison County has a domestic violence shelter," Lainhart said.

Tickets to "An Evening for Hope" can be purchased at www.hopeswings.org. They sell for $125 per ticket or $1250 for a table of 10. Donations to Hope's Wings can also be made on the website or by check at PO Box 488, Richmond, KY, 40476.