This year's theme for our dinner is The Year of GRIT: Growth. Resilience. Initiative. Tenacity.

While the dinner will address the changes Bethany has undergone recently to ensure our sustainability into the future, we also want to share the importance of our Emergency Shelter program.

Our 24-hour Emergency Shelter Program is for youth in immediate need of a stable environment while
an appropriate permanent plan for their care is developed. Stays can last up to 30 days as that stable plan is formed. Since reopening last March, the shelter program has served 115 youth along their healing journeys.

Youth who arrive at our shelter often have very little to no belongings and have just left a very traumatic situation, whether it be trafficking, physical and/or sexual abuse, or homelessness, just to name a few examples. We provide youth with clothing; a clean, comfortable bed and bedding; personal care items; an mp3 player for music therapy; and more.

The cost of these items, combined with the high rate of turnover in a 30-day program, means the shelter is one of our more costly programs. It is also our most in demand.

Your Tribute Dinner ticket purchase will help us to continue our life-changing work in the Shelter program.

Tribute Dinner: The Year of GRIT

Sept. 26, 5:30 p.m. at Abe Lincoln Hotel in Reading