Auction, psychologist’s talk to highlight LINK benefit

'Thoughts for Food' to raise money to help kitchen's efforts to feed the hungry

A silent auction featuring food-related items and a noted Lawrence psychologist will highlight Wednesday night’s benefit for the Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen.

The benefit, “Thoughts for Food,” will be held in the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H. The auction gets under way at 5 p.m. and ends at 7:30 p.m. It will be followed by “An Evening With Dr. Harriet Lerner,” who will give a talk called “Voice Lessons: A Blueprint for Clarity and Courage in Relationships.”

Items up for bid during the auction will be food-related, said Diana Yeamans, L.I.N.K. board president. They will be things that relate to kitchens, dining rooms, food preparation and some will include a Kansas University sports tie-in, she said.

“We’re having a lot of fun in keeping things together and in keeping with our theme,” Yeamans said.

Lerner is a clinical psychologist with a private practice in Lawrence. She has written several books and has been on the New York Times best-seller list. She also once worked on the staff at the Menninger’s Clinic in Topeka.

Lerner will talk about how to speak wisely and well during a person’s most difficult relationships, “hopefully with some combination of humor and good advice,” she said. “That’s the thread that goes through all of my books.”

Lerner’s books will be for sale after her speech and she will sign them. All proceeds go to LINK.

LINK’s purpose is to provide a pleasant, safe place for the hungry or lonely to share a free, nutritious meal. Many who eat at LINK in the basement of the First Christian Church, 221 W. 10th St., are homeless. But the meals are open to anybody, “no questions asked,” according to the LINK Web site, www.community.lawrence.com/link.

The benefit will help LINK pay expenses. The organization has an affordable lease at the church and many volunteers who provide and serve food. At least $70,000 worth of food is donated to LINK each year, Yeamans said. But LINK spends about $26,000 annually for supplies and pays for equipment, maintenance, cleaning and other operating expenses.

Tickets for Wednesday’s event are $20 per person and can be obtained at the Arts Center at the door or in advance.

Sponsors for this year’s benefit include: Douglas County Community Foundation, Community Mercantile, the Douglas County Chapter of the Thrivent Financials for Lutherans and the Arts Center.