Dyngus Day event to support sober women’s home

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Monday is Dyngus Day. It’s a cultural holiday that usually focuses on food, music, and drinking.

But, some in South Bend will celebrate Sober Dyngus Day.

The event will feature traditional Polish food and polka music.

The money raised at the event will go to the renovation of the Upper Room Women’s Home for women struggling with addiction.

Renovations of the former law office are underway now.

The historic building that sits Downtown South Bend will be transformed into a 16-bed sober living facility for women.

The capital campaign to fund the restoration began last year.

Right now three quarters of the phase one goal have been raised.

The women’s home will be an expansion of Upper Room Recovery Communities that have given men who are recovering from addiction a place to live.

Fundraising Consultant for Upper Room Nate Levin-Aspenson says that making this home happen is a necessity.

“It’s been in demand for a long time, but it’s really kicked up with the flaring up of the opioid epidemic, and the community effort to deal with those effects. A lot of people ask us if we have somewhere to go, and we always make sure to do our best and give someone a referral to another facility, but when it comes to women sober housing there just aren’t that many options,” he said.

You can dig into traditional Polish food starting at 5 o’clock Monday evening at 333 Main Street in South Bend. Polka music and dancing will follow.