The time has come for the community to band together and support the efforts of the Ojai Valley Family Shelter by attending the third annual Love Thy Neighbor benefit concert and silent auction.
For the third straight year the shelter is holding the fundraiser to help pay for its shelters, which provide a safe environment for homeless to eat, sleep, and take a warm shower during Ojai’s four coldest and wettest months.
Local churches host the shelter based on a rotating schedule. The project is funded by donations, and events such as Love Thy Neighbor are essential to operating the shelters.
For the past two years Ojai Valley School English teacher Crystal Davis has brought groups of OVS students to volunteer at the fundraiser. Despite those contributions, Davis said the real credit should go to those who staff the shelters.
“The people who are the real heroes of this story are those who are there on a nightly basis at the church with the people who come in hungry and poor,” Davis said.
Even with the fundraiser falling on OVS’ school break, some of the day students have stepped up and volunteered their time to help the event, including sophomore Leila Giannetti.
“I just think its really important to get involved in the community because its such a small town,” Giannetti said. “I think its important to help the people in need especially because they are in our community as well. Just because they don’t have a home doesn’t mean their not important.”
Tickets to the Love Thy Neighbor fundraiser are $20 at pre-sale locations: Java Joe’s, Attitude Adjustment, Ojai Wesleyan Church, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Ojai Presbyterian Church, and First Baptist Church. At the door tickets are $25 dollars.
When: February 21 from 2pm to 5pm.
Where: 907 El Centro Street, Ojai CA 93023
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/230957080570846/#