The MEND with Music fundraiser is an opportunity to help individuals and families keep or find a decent and affordable place to call home.
The Moorestown Ecumenical Neighborhood Development – which provides affordable housing – decided a year ago to host a more intimate fundraiser. The result is the nonprofit’s MEND with Music event in April.
“It’s nice to be able to let the community know (that) this is what we’re doing,” said MEND’s President and CEO, Eileen Wirth, who’s been with the organization for more than five years. “This is what’s going on. This is how we’re trying to address the affordable-housing shortfall situation that exists not only here in Moorestown, Burlington County, New Jersey …
“I don’t think you can pick up a paper or go on any website without seeing some report about the shortfall of affordable housing,” she added. “We might be, maybe, small and focused (on) the Burlington County area in general, but we’re mighty. We’re doing what we can.”
The mission of MEND is to provide high-quality, accessible, secure, safe and affordable housing to individuals and families in South Jersey. Founded 57 years ago, it develops, builds, owns and manages affordable rental housing, and since 1978, has developed more than 770 affordable apartments for single adults, senior citizens, persons with special needs and families in 30 different locations.
MEND homes include new construction and the adaptive re-use of existing historic structures, and the size of its communities range from single-family homes to 100-plus unit garden apartments. Today, it operates 253 affordable rental homes in Moorestown and in the past year, the organization has acquired two buildings, adding four more affordable rental homes to that portfolio, according to Wirth.
“It might not seem like much, but that affordable home means a lot to the family that is housed there,” she explained. “It means everything to the family that is going to be housed there. It makes an impact … It’s rewarding.”
The organization’s third annual MEND with Music fundraiser will be held at the Community House on Thursday, April 30, at 5:30 p.m. The evening will include a selection of hors d’oeuvres by Georgetti’s Catering; a performance by Our Three Tenors; and remarks from Wirth that will highlight the organization’s mission and the impact of community support.
All sponsorships include event tickets; sponsor recognition; and most importantly, the chance to help individuals and families have an affordable place to live. Ticket sales will open soon; visit mendinc.org/annual-gala/ for updates.
“There is an openness to having affordable housing in the community, and I think that may have been driven somewhat by MEND’s success of providing affordable housing without it being obvious,” Wirth offered. “ … Just to incorporate affordable homes into the community … That’s seamless.
“That can help make a difference.”
