Britain Hill Venue & Vineyard, 790 N. Little Britain Road, Quarryville, will host its annual fundraiser for Solanco Neighborhood Ministries (SNM) from 5 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31. The rain-or-shine event will highlight SNM's efforts to serve the community, and it will feature live entertainment, auctions and various food trucks. Admission to the fundraiser will be free, but attendees are encouraged to register online in advance at https://tinyurl.com/SNMbritainhill24.

Food and beverages will be available to purchase from food trucks such as 22BBQ and Italian Oven on Wheels, and Penny's Ice Cream will vend frozen desserts during the fundraiser. The event will also include a silent auction as well as a live auction for the first time this year. Attendees will have an opportunity to bid on a variety of items and experiences, including tickets to the Fulton Theatre, an antique quilt, two vouchers for a glassblowing class and a sailing activity on Chesapeake Bay.

Britain Hill first hosted the annual fundraiser shortly after the coronavirus pandemic, when SNM's executive director, Teresa Dolan, proposed a collaboration for a new event called "Do You Know Your Neighbor?" The goal of the event was to give members of the public insight on different types of programs SNM offers the Southern End, which comprise more than its food bank in Quarryville. During the first fundraiser at Britain Hill, SNM representatives set up stations to highlight specific areas of focus, including rent and utility assistance, and initiatives to distribute gas cards, diapers and school supplies to local families.

"This event not only brings awareness of what services (SNM) has to offer, but it's proved to be a great fundraiser for them," said Debbie Helm, the owner of Britain Hill. Since founding the venue in 2017, Helm and her husband, Ken, have frequently organized events to give local nonprofits a platform and amplify their impact in the community.

Representatives from SNM will be present to share information on the nonprofit's many programs and to accept donations from supporters. Donations and the proceeds from both auctions will help SNM cover its operational costs and program expenses, as well as help the organization fund a new initiative to combat housing insecurity across Lancaster County. "We're definitely seeing an uptick in the number of people facing issues with housing," said Christal Pritchard, SNM's housing resource advocate. "Our goal is to holistically address the problem through a program that helps individuals get out of a cycle of homelessness." Pritchard added that SNM is in the early stages of designing the program, but it hopes to build relationships with landlords and to offer budgeting plans as part of the new initiative.

For more information about SNM, visit https://solanconeighborhoodministries.org.