Barbara Rigby, Bill Cooney, Diana Grossi and Mariclare Beggy. [Photo: Denise Ritchie]

Luminaries lined the driveway of The Moorings Yacht & Country Club last Monday evening at the 2019 Hope for Families Center Annual Dinner, serving as a tribute to donors who “Light the Way” and help lift families out of homelessness.

After perusing silent-auction items and catching up on summer adventures, guests were ushered into the dining room, glowingly transformed by event co-chairs Mariclare Beggy and Barbra Rigby. To illuminate the need for services for homeless families, twinkling lights dangled from all the windows and table centerpieces featured lustrous lanterns.

Proceeds from the evening will help HFC provide hope for a better future by empowering families to recover their lives through the offer of food, shelter, structure, financial literacy education, employment skills, and access to physical and mental wellness.

“We’re here to light the way for homeless families,” said Dr. William Cooney, HFC board president, in his opening remarks. “We care for those who are acutely or suddenly without a job, have no money for medical expenses and no place to hang their hat.”

Lorenzo Lockett, HFC residence manager and the evening’s guest speaker, said that the nonprofit served 100 families last year, including more than 25,000 meals.

Citing a recent United Way ALICE report (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), Cooney noted that 51 percent of the 55,000 households in Indian River County have difficulty earning enough money to meet such basic needs as food, clothing and shelter.

Cooney also said that according to the Homeless Continuum of Care study, there are over 900 homeless people in Vero Beach, with 40 percent of those being children.

“Today, I had about 20 referrals on my desk of homeless families living in tents and living in cars. And I have one room left,” said Lockett. “Tomorrow is going to be a hard day for me because I’m going to have to choose one family to bring into the shelter.”

After guests enjoyed another delicious dinner overseen by Moorings Chef Ben Tench, attorney John Moore, serving as the master of ceremonies and auctioneer, got things rolling with a live auction and later a call from the heart.

On Dec. 16, HFC will host a Pearls for Hope Christmas Luncheon at Bent Pine Golf Club. For more information, visit hopeforfamiliescenter.org.