Villa Maria is gearing up for its annual Wine & Tapas Night, a fundraiser supporting unhoused women as they work toward self-sufficiency in El Paso. The event brings together wine, food from more than a dozen local restaurants, live music and a silent auction, all in service of a nonprofit that says it has helped more than 900 women move toward greater independence.
The fundraiser is set for Thursday, Oct. 8, from 6 to 10 p.m. at St. Roger’s Depot, according to KVIA. Guests can expect wines, food from 14 participating restaurants, live music and a silent auction, with tickets priced at $75. Proceeds are meant to help Villa Maria continue providing services to women in need.
Laura Rayborn, board president of Villa Maria, spoke about the fundraiser and the organization’s work in the El Paso community. Villa Maria describes itself as a transitional living center for unhoused women in El Paso, offering 22 rooms where women can stay while receiving support with education, employment and other needs.
How Long Women Stay, and Why Accounts Differ
KVIA reports the shelter allows women to stay for up to a year and a half while they receive support. Villa Maria’s own residency page offers a different figure, stating that residents who enter the program on average stay 12 to 14 months. A separate page on Villa Maria’s site describing its programs and services notes that some residents exhaust a two-year limit when their situations are especially severe. The organization has not reconciled these varying figures publicly…