For five years Galen Glen Winery, 255 Winter Mountain Drive, Andreas, has hosted an annual event in October to benefit Family Promise of Carbon County, the area’s only shelter for homeless children and their parents.

On Oct. 27-28, it will hold its sixth annual HalloWINE Weekend to benefit the local charity. This is the first year the winery is partnering with Lehighton Ford.

When asked about the idea and partnership, Kathy Matson, tasting room manager, said, “It wasn’t a very original idea. I thought about food drives where they stuffed a bus and thought, why can’t we do that with some cars? I called a friend at Lehighton Ford and pitched the idea because I know they also generously give back to our local community, and they said, ‘Yes!’”

“We are proud to be a leader in helping our local community,” Gary Salijko Jr., general sales manager at Lehighton Ford, said.

“When the winery asked, we knew this was a great cause and another way for our team to give back. Unfortunately, people fall on hard times and it is important to us to invest in others who are less fortunate.”

The word “investing” is a common theme.

Jonathan Blackwell-Rodgers, director of Family Promise of Carbon County, said, “Businesses who are donating and helping with Family Promise are actually investing in the community and the lives of those in the program.

Businesses can invest by hosting events like this or working with one of our local host churches to prepare meals, dine with guests for fellowship, spend a night sleeping at a host church to represent care and compassion while the families sleep. This all fosters a sense of community.”

The winery and dealership hope that the community will visit the winery with donations of new or gently used blankets and sheets, new towels, wash cloths, underwear and socks for men, women and children.

Also needed are cleaning supplies, light bulbs, laundry soap and fabric softener sheets, toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, diapers and baby wipes, and some toiletries.

If you are unable to make the event, donations may be dropped off the week before during normal business hours at the winery or at Lehighton Ford.

The tasting room is open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. It’s closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Family Promise of Carbon County, based in Lehighton, allows homeless families to stay together.

Unlike most shelters where women and children and men are separated into separate wings, this program allows families to stay and live together in the day center where they learn new skills to find better jobs and then in the evening at host churches where they have their own bedrooms.

It is the only homeless program in the county for families.

For more information about Family Promise of Carbon County go to: familypromisecarboncounty.com.