A wine tasting and silent auction fundraiser benefiting the Central Night Shelter is being organized by parishioners from the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and Central Presbyterian Church.

The fundraiser will be held at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, at 48 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Central Night Shelter is Atlanta’s only volunteer-run night shelter serving the homeless in the downtown area. The shelter is a ministry of hospitality and compassion, offering to up to 100 men who are homeless a hot meal, a warm safe place to spend the night and medical care.

All proceeds from this event will benefit the Central Night Shelter (www.centralshelter.org), which is in desperate need of new mattresses. The shelter is located jointly in the gymnasium of Central Presbyterian Church and the church hall of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The ministry is run by an ecumenical group, directed by Katie Bashor, a member of the Shrine.

Auction items include event tickets, artwork, dinners, memorabilia, collector’s items and much more. The Shrine of the Immaculate Conception also welcomes monetary donations and items to the fundraiser. Items can include professional services, tickets to events or for flights, gift certificates or items of value. If giving money to cover expenses of the auction, please make checks payable to “The Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.”

Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the door and include a variety of wines, a souvenir wine glass and free parking. Tickets can be purchased at the Shrine business office or on a will-call basis by phone from the Shrine business office at (404) 521-1866.