The HOPE center of East Central Illinois will host a benefit at 5 p.m. Friday at Jackson Avenue Coffee.

HOPE, which stands for Housing, Outreach, Prevention and Education, is a non-profit organization that runs a shelter for victims of abuse.

HOPE provides housing for battered women as well as many programs with the goal of decreasing violence in the local community.

These programs include education in local schools along with counseling designed to empower those affected by domestic violence.

HOPE helps those victimized by domestic violence by providing them with education, legal assistance, and more.

Dano Reible, the owner of Jackson Avenue Coffee, said this is the eighth year that they are having the Night of Hope at the coffeehouse, and that it has been their “busiest night of the year” in the past.

He said they always get lots of support and have been getting a lot of bids on artwork.

The event will include music, food, art and a raffle. The raffle prizes include a night’s stay at the Trump Tower in Chicago and a sailboat party on Carlyle Lake.

Raffle tickets can be bought in advance or the night of the event.

A silent auction will be going on throughout September. The silent auction is a part of the Night of Hope where people can bid on pieces from the art gallery.

The Night of Hope will be the last night people can bid in the silent auction.

The evening will begin with music from various artists, starting with Irish Music Circle at 5 p.m.

The band will be followed by The Ex-Bombers at 6 p.m., Jenna Jackley at 7 p.m. and Motherlode at 8 p.m.

Reible said he hopes the Night of HOPE will have a large turnout at this year’s event and bring awareness for the cause at hand.

“A lot of people who are in abusive relationships don’t know that they can get help,” Reible said.

The organizers are attempting to solve this problem by getting more people to know about the HOPE Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

“The Night of Hope is always great for awareness, and we always receive great support from a great community,” Reible said.

The Night of HOPE is open to the public and admission is free.

“Everyone is welcome, and everyone will be working together to celebrate [HOPE],” Reible said.

Cassie Buchman can be reached at 581-2812 or cjbuchman@eiu.edu