The Lincoln County Ecumenical Committee for Haiti has announced that its annual Haiti benefit dinner will be prepared this year by the Newcastle Publick House staff and kitchen under the supervision of chef-owner Alex Nevens. The annual dinner will take place on Nov. 3 at 5 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church in Damariscotta Mills and chef Nevens plans an authentic Haitian menu.

The annual benefit dinner was first held in 2010 in the aftermath of the earthquake which devastated vast areas of Haiti. Members of St Andrew’s and St Patrick’s Churches, Congregational Churches in Bristol, Wiscasset and Newcastle, the Friends Meeting House and others throughout Lincoln County came together to raise funds for an Ecumenical Committee established in the northwest Haitian town of Gros Morne to address the news of poor earthquake refugees who had fled the devastation.

Responding to the specific requests of the Ecumenical Committee in Gros Morne, monies raised at the first benefit dinners was used for scholarships for refugee children, housing, the old folks home and school repairs. Over the years, the Gros Morne committee has begun to focus on broader development needs of the poor in Gros Morne and the annual dinner has responded with funding for projects such as micro loans and financial literacy, introduction of goats to the rural economy, school uniforms and books, teachers’ salaries and school repairs. This year, the Gros Morne committee has requested that school lunch programs also be funded.

The dinner provides an exciting opportunity for participants to specify what their contributions will be used for. Last year, dinner participants bought goats for the microloan and literacy project and school uniforms and books. This year, a fourth option will be available, school lunches. Often the only hot meal a poor child may get is that provided at lunch at school. While many schools benefit from international food assistance, this is not true of all schools. The Gros Morne committee has identified two and possibly three schools where dinner participants will be able to purchase a week of school lunches for a needy child for as little as $2.50. While these meals are simple, based on rice and beans and local vegetables, they are nutritious and properly prepared. They are literally life savers.

As was done last year, auctioneer John Botero of Thomaston Place Galleries will conduct the pledging session.

In addition to the pledging session, the dinner will feature newly arrived paintings and handicrafts from Haiti, the raffle of a beautiful Haitian painting, a door prize of Haitian food and drink as well as Haitian music, punch and coffee.

Tickets will be available shortly at local outlets and churches at $30 adult and $15 children (tickets at the door will be $35). To join the host committee, volunteer or for further information, please contact co chairs Barbara Williams at 350-5248 or Dean Curran at 380-5102.