Volunteers will be offering up plates of spaghetti — with a side of hope — this Saturday at Dowagiac’s Federated Covenant Church.

Coordinators and volunteers with Hope’s House will host a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the women’s support organization from 5 to 8 p.m. that evening at the church, 202 Center St., Dowagiac. Dinner costs $8 for adults and $5 for children, with all proceeds going toward a new roof for the Hope’s House structure.

Hope’s House is a transitional home for women dealing with substance abuse issues. Leaders with Dowagiac’s Apostolic Lighthouse Church established the home nearly 10 years ago, with members helping to run and maintain the structure with support from others in the community.

Residents of the home learn to live a sober, productive life during their stay. Social workers and volunteers help teach the women skills such as financial literacy, how to get and maintain a job, and how to prepare meals for themselves and their children.

“These are things that a lot of people take for granted, but many of these women do not know how to do,” said Valerie Jones, a social worker and one of the organizers of Saturday’s fundraiser.

While located in Dowagiac, Hope’s House’s services are open to women throughout Cass County, Jones said.

Maintenance of the home is also a volunteer effort, with church members, social workers and others in the community chipping in every once in a while to help paint or repair something around the structure.

In recent years, the roof of the building has begun showing signs of deterioration, and has leaked from time to time, Jones said. While several people have volunteered to work on replacing the roof, program organizers will need to raise around $9,000 in order to pay for materials for the project.

“We need to do something before winter, or we will have to sell the house,” said Sheila Helmuth, a leader with the Apostolic Lighthouse Church and Hope’s House coordinator.

In response to the problem, several volunteers stepped up to organize fundraisers to support Hope’s House, the first being the spaghetti dinner. The event will be hosted at Federated Covenant Church, which is a strong supporter of the rehabilitation home, Jones said.

In addition to serving homemade spaghetti, dinner will include salad, drinks and dessert. Several past residents of Hope’s House will speak during the dinner, telling attendees about their experiences and how the program changed their lives, Jones said.

Volunteers will organize a second event at the Apostolic Lighthouse Church later this summer. The fundraiser, The Art of Recovery, will feature homemade goods and crafts that customers may purchase, as well as live music, light refreshments and a silent auction.

Jones encourages the people to come out to the church Saturday to support the Hope’s House.

“It is an asset for the community,” Jones said. “The skills these women learn don’t just change their lives, but it affects the lives of their children. It has a ripple effect that benefits the entire area.”

HOW TO HELP HOPE

WHAT: Hope’s House Spaghetti Dinner

WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 24

WHERE: Federated Covenant Church, 202 Center St., Dowagiac

COST: $8 for adults, $5 for children

Proceeds go toward paying for a new roof for the women’s rehabilitation home