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<p>JENKINS TWP. &#8212; Residents from Luzerne County and beyond came out to raise money for homeless veterans at the Rhythm and Wine event hosted by Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton at Vito&#8217;s Wine Cellar on Friday night.</p><p>&#8220;When I started with this event, I was originally the master of ceremonies,&#8221; said event co-chair Dave Kuharchik of WBRE. &#8220;But as the years have gone on, I&#8217;ve gotten more involved.&#8221;</p><p>Now in its seventh year, Rhythm and Wine has raised over $70,000 for homeless veterans in Luzerne County, according to Kuharchik.</p><p>&#8220;I love to give back to the community,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s disgraceful that people who served our country proudly are homeless. This is an avenue for us to help them and I&#8217;ll continue to do it.&#8221;</p><p>Bill Joyce, 59, of Avoca, shared the same sentiment as Kuharchik.</p><p>&#8220;We are trying to fill the gap with housing,&#8221; said Joyce. &#8220;The money raised tonight will help these veterans in their future endeavors. It&#8217;s great to see the community support for an important cause.&#8221;</p><p>For $50, attendees were treated to food, wine, live music and a silent auction.</p><p>&#8220;Any time you can go to a winery and have some vino and meet new people while helping out a great cause is a plus,&#8221; said Wilkes-Barre native James Menapace, 69. &#8220;My friend actually told me about this event. I will do anything to help our veterans, especially ones that are homeless.&#8221;</p><p>He continued: &#8220;It&#8217;s nice to give back to the community and help our homeless vets find a home in the Wyoming Valley. We need to do anything we can to help show our appreciation and give back.&#8221;</p><p>According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, approximately 11 percent of the adult homeless population are veterans.</p><p>The coalition also notes that 51 percent of individual homeless veterans have disabilities, 50 percent have a serious mental illness and 70 percent have substance abuse problems.</p><p>&#8220;Unfortunately, our federal government doesn&#8217;t keep up their end of the bargain and fulfill their promise to helping the men and women when they return home,&#8221; said Catholic Social Services of Wyoming Valley board member Lou Palmeri. &#8220;We need to do more not only to help homeless veterans but all veterans.&#8221;</p><p>Palmeri, 63, of Kingston, said contributions from the community helps fulfill the mission of Catholic Social Services.</p><p>&#8220;The money raised tonight really helps a great cause,&#8221; Palmeri noted. &#8220;There&#8217;s great food, wine and good company.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Rhythm and Wine event co-chair, WBRE&#8217;s Dave Kuharchik, chats with Joe Mamary of Blakeslee at Vito&#8217;s Wine Cellar in Jenkins Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_Rhythm-Wine-2-1-1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Rhythm and Wine event co-chair, WBRE&#8217;s Dave Kuharchik, chats with Joe Mamary of Blakeslee at Vito&#8217;s Wine Cellar in Jenkins Township. </caption0><photoCredit0>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_Rhythm-Wine-5-1-1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Carmel Spencer, of Yatesville, left, and Lisa Sanguedolce, of Plains, enjoy a glass of wine at the Rhythm and Wine event Friday to help homeless veterans in Luzerne County via Catholic Social Services. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_Rhythm-Wine-5-1-1-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Carmel Spencer, of Yatesville, left, and Lisa Sanguedolce, of Plains, enjoy a glass of wine at the Rhythm and Wine event Friday to help homeless veterans in Luzerne County via Catholic Social Services. </caption1><photoCredit1>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_Rhythm-Wine-4-1-1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">From left, Raymond and Ellen Ercolani, Forty Fort, along with Sandy and Rick Ercolani, Mountain Top, enjoyed an evening together supporting Catholic Social Services on Friday at Vito&#8217;s Wine Cellar in Jenkins Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_Rhythm-Wine-4-1-1-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>From left, Raymond and Ellen Ercolani, Forty Fort, along with Sandy and Rick Ercolani, Mountain Top, enjoyed an evening together supporting Catholic Social Services on Friday at Vito&#8217;s Wine Cellar in Jenkins Township. </caption2><photoCredit2>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_Rhythm-Wine-1-1-1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The seventh annual Rhythm and Wine event to benefit Catholic Social Services and homeless veterans was held at Vito&#8217;s Wine Cellar in Jenkins Township on Friday. Shown is event co-chair Dave Kuharchik of WBRE along with WBRE anchor Kelly Byrne. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_Rhythm-Wine-1-1-1-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>The seventh annual Rhythm and Wine event to benefit Catholic Social Services and homeless veterans was held at Vito&#8217;s Wine Cellar in Jenkins Township on Friday. Shown is event co-chair Dave Kuharchik of WBRE along with WBRE anchor Kelly Byrne. </caption3><photoCredit3>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Dan Stokes</p><p>dstokes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Dan Stokes at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @ByDanStokes</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wine for a cause: Event raises money for homeless veterans