'Beacon of Hope for Haiti' benefit set Saturday in city

Beacon Ministries, a mission of River of Life Fellowship Church, 24650 Hinds Road, will host a "Beacon of Hope for Haiti" benefit from 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Northside Improvement League.

Volunteers from 14 churches in the area have joined together to assist in the benefit.

"We've had tremendous local community support in our planning for the benefit," said Barbara M. Yates, co-founder of Beacon Ministries.

Beacon Ministries operates an orphanage, a Christian school and a medical clinic out of a church and a house in Moline, Haiti, a mountainous area about 100 miles north of Port-au-Prince. The Port-au-Prince area was near the epicenter of the January earthquake. Beacon Ministries sends a team of two to six members to Haiti a couple of times a year.

At Saturday's benefit, volunteers will be selling crafts, baked goods, cookbooks, candles, and jewelry.

"There will be live music all day, several different guest speakers, food, games and activities for the whole family," said Mrs. Yates.

An auction will take place at 5 p.m. and names will be drawn for door prizes throughout the day.

The auction will have different categories such as new items, gently used items and "almost antiques." Nearly two dozen theme baskets have been put together by church members.

Mrs. Yates said that since Beacon began providing earthquake relief in the Moline area, 3,500 people have sought the assistance.

"We are providing food for 76 families and several people have sought shelter in the church building," Mrs. Yates said. "Our school has reopened and we are encouraging all children to attend in an effort to give them stability and structure in their day."