Church Charity Event to Help Less Fortunate

For nearly 10 years the St.Thomas United Methodist Church in Manassas has been holding a week-long music camp during the summer for children ages K-5th grade.

Saturday night the Church will be hosting a charity event, which will feature a free musical performance from the children titled "God of the City" to be followed by the 'Help the Homeless Mini-Walk' and dinner to benefit the Wesley House Foundation.

Wesley Housing is a charity organization started over 35 years by the United Methodist Church and assists less-fortunate individuals find affordable, below market price housing.

This year, 29 children are enrolled in the camp that is taking place this week. They have been preparing for their special performance this Saturday night by auditioning for certain parts and practicing their roles. Members from Wesley Housing have been present everyday holding educational segments with the children to help raise awareness about being homeless.

The musical the children are a part of is about a homeless shelter in their city that is in danger of being shutdown.

Following the 30-minute musical performance there will be a 'miniwalk' for the homeless that will benefit the foundation. Attendees will walk the church grounds and participate in various activities at stations set up throughout the walk.

To attend the walk there is a $30 entry fee for adults and $20 for children, you will also receive a t-shirt from the event.

All proceeds will be donated to Wesley Housing.

After the walk enjoy dinner by the church chef, Frank Priest. Priest created a menu that consists of items passed out for a meal in a homeless shelter:

• ham salad sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, chips, macaroni salad, jello salad, lemonade, tea, water and strawberry shortcake.

Cost of dinner is $6 per person; $15 for a family of three or more. Again, all proceeds go to Wesley House.

Northern virginia United Methodist churches established the foundation 36 years ago.

"We are an affordable housing agency that offers housing to people who can't pay market rate housing,' Faith Community Liason Linda Honea said. We are independent from the church, but we still enjoy their support, their pray support, financial support and their volunteer support."

There are 18 affordable housing properties owned by Wesley Housing throughout the region; mostly apartment complexes with 80-125 units in each one.

There is even a Manassas location on Quarry Road: , where the children will be taking a field trip.

Currently, there are over 2,000 residents being housed by Wesley House.

"We have a wide range of residents: families and individuals, senior citizens on fixed incomes, disabled or or people that have various health problems; design components are used in those properties to help them live more normal lives," Honea said.

The event begins at 5 pm, Saturday, July 30 at . All are welcome; you don't  have to be a part of the church to participate.