St. Armands Key Lutheran Church holds Haiti benefit

St. Armands Key Lutheran Church will hold an ‘Island Casual’ social event on Saturday, April 24, to benefit the Lutheran Church in Haiti.

Live music, steel drums by Loris Caines and dancing will be offered along with food and mocktails. The event is from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the church courtyard and fellowship hall, 40 North Adams Drive, Sarasota, near St. Armands Circle.

St. Armands Key Lutheran voted last year to use $11,000 from its global mission fund to help build a church in Haiti. Other churches in the Mid-Gulf Conference of the Florida Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are also contributing and Pastor Joseph Livensen Lauvanus, president of the Lutheran Church in Haiti, came to Sarasota in November to thank area churches for their assistance.

The January earthquake in Haiti created urgent recovery needs and St. Armands Key Lutheran responded with $10,000 in emergency funds. Pastor Livensen Lauvanus has said a pressing need remains to provide more than 1,000 families with food, shelter, and sanitation.

Area residents of all ages may attend, with tickets on sale for $20 (children under 10 free) and all proceeds going to the Lutheran Church in Haiti. Tickets may be purchased at the church or by calling 341-0739.