Gourmet dinners help out homeless

Dinners served in 17 homes across Laguna and beyond will help temporarily feed and shelter homeless people trying to better their lives.

The fundraiser is a major source of financing for Friendship Shelter in Laguna Beach.

“It is the only year-round shelter for homeless adults in Orange County,” Development Director Jennifer Miller told the guests at the dinner hosted Saturday by Dave Sanford, Steve Dotoratos and Rocky the dog.

“We have 29 residents at the shelter at any given time, a total of 300 a year. We have served more than 5,000 people since we opened.”

There is always a waiting list for the free 60-day program, which includes a bed, three meals a day, free laundry services, clothing and personal hygiene items, and access to telephones, computers, a fax and message service, Miller said.

Counseling is also provided, along with budgeting and money-management workshops, health education, and mental health and substance abuse services.

Friendship Shelter also offers transitional housing in San Clemente at Henderson House, named for the Rev. Colin Henderson, a founder of the shelter program.