Waltham Cares dinner set for Sept. 16

Chaplains on the Way will hold its second annual Waltham Cares Dinner to Benefit Our Unhoused Neighbors on Sept. 16, as the nonprofit reports a sharp rise in the number of people seeking help.

The Waltham-based organization said it has seen a 67% increase in people needing assistance through its daily morning programs. Last year’s inaugural dinner raised about $34,000, and organizers are aiming for a similar total this year.

Money from the dinner supports the group’s core daily operations through the winter. Chaplains on the Way is open five mornings a week in the hours after overnight shelters close and before the Community Day Center opens, giving guests a warm place to rest. Donations also pay for food, hygiene products, toiletries, clothing, sleeping bags and other supplies, and fund a hot breakfast served by volunteers. Chaplains greet guests and help them navigate healthcare, housing and social services.

State Rep. Thomas M. Stanley is serving as event chairman. Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy and members of City Council have been invited as honored guests.

“Homelessness is more than a lack of housing; it is a loss of community,” Stanley said. “When someone falls on hard times, our community steps up. I invite everyone across Waltham to pull up a chair and join us for this important evening.”

Louise Rachin, board president, said community support made last year’s dinner a success.

“As the need on our streets continues to grow, this evening is essential to maintaining our daily breakfast and outreach programs,” Rachin said.

Chaplains on the Way is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing spiritual care, hot meals and community connections to unhoused neighbors.

Event details

• What: 2nd Annual Waltham Cares Dinner
• When: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16
• Where: American Legion Post 156, 215 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham
• Tickets: $50; sponsorships range from $500 for a table host to $5,000 for a platinum sponsor
• Reservations and donations: www.chaplainsontheway.us, or mail a check to Chaplains on the Way Inc., P.O. Box 541236, Waltham, MA 02454
• Questions/RSVP: Louise Rachin, president@chaplainsontheway.org