EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — For nearly 20 years, Villa Maria in El Paso has served as a lifeline for women seeking stability, offering up to a year of housing, meals, and support as they look for work, attend school, and prepare to live on their own.
To help meet growing demand and rising costs, the shelter will host its annual Wine and Tapas fundraiser this week on Oct. 8, featuring local restaurants, live music, and a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting Villa Maria.
Speaking to KFOX14/CBS4 on Monday, Laura Rayborn, board president for El Paso Villa Maria, said the event is aimed at helping the organization continue housing women.
Rayborn said that as more women need help, the costs to serve them have increased, and a funding shortfall has put the shelter’s ability to keep the lights on in jeopardy.
“We do need this because El Paso’s Villa Maria is a house that transitions a lot of different women. We have 22 different bedrooms where women can actually change their lives, and just like everybody is going through, from not-for-profits to regular families, everything’s so expensive right now, from food to the cost of living. So right here, we do have the 22 women that we serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and then, of course, a lot of them attend school, or they have to get a job,” Rayborn said.
She added, “We’ve helped over 900 women transition their lives into a better future. So we’re always looking for board members, volunteers, or even donors or sponsors…It’s definitely important. We want to keep the house open for them.”
The event will be held Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m. at St. Roger’s Depot, 920 South Oregon St. For tickets or more info, visit here.
RECOMMENDED: El Paso doctors urge menopause awareness during women’s month
Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox