Casino Night Will Aid Rescue Mission

Playing craps, roulette and blackjack at the Wedgewood Inn on Friday will help benefit the Ventura County Rescue Mission.

Proceeds from Casino Night, sponsored by the Ventura County Coastal Assn. of Realtors, will allow the rescue mission to continue assisting poor people in need of food, clothing, shelter, counseling, job training, education, literacy and medical services.

The rescue mission, which operates a residential program for men recovering from alcohol and drug abuse and a 78-bed shelter for homeless men, is also in the process of opening a 12-bed house for homeless women and children, waiting only for the city to issue permits.

“We help them with the basic necessities that most people take for granted,” said Carol Roberg, associate director. “Above all, loneliness is probably the worst thing for homeless people, because no one seemingly cares about them.

“But here they receive food, clothing, shelter, and love and kind words.”

Roberg and her husband, Jerry, opened the mission nine years ago by themselves.

Now they have 90 employees, two thrift stores and an automobile business where people learn to work on cars.

A fire five years ago, however, forced them to relocate and rebuild the 20,000-square-foot Oxnard facility at a cost of $1.3 million. To date, they’ve raised only $800,000 to cover the costs.

Welfare cutbacks have also prompted more families to join them for meals, Roberg said.

To purchase tickets for Casino Night, contact the Ventura County Assn. of Realtors at 981-2100. A $30 donation will come with $1,000 in “funbucks” for use in the casino games.

Casino Night will run from 7:30 until 11:30 p.m. Friday at the Wedgewood Inn, 5880 Olivas Park Drive, Ventura.