A yearly fund-raising dinner and auction for Lydia's House, which provides transitional housing for abused women and their children in the St. Louis area, sold out for the first time.

The "Safe At Home" benefit, held Saturday at Rose of the Hill restaurant in St. Louis, drew 340 people for dinner, silent and live auctions, live music and dancing.

"Amidst all the fun and frolic of the evening, the reason we're here is for the women and children," said Dawn Stringfield, executive director of Lydia's House. "There should never be another (situation like) Kelli Alexander."

Police say John Alexander, 38, gunned down his wife, Kelli Alexander, 35, and her friend April Wheeler, 29, on Feb. 25 on a street in Town and Country. Alexander had tried to break free from an abusive marriage, friends and family have said, by moving to Wheeler's home and securing a restraining order against her husband.

Lydia's House has space in three locations for 37 women and 78 children. In September, the organization opened its third facility, a 25-unit complex in St. Louis. The organization keeps the locations of its facilities secret because it is concerned that angry spouses might attack residents if they find them.

Organizers hoped the fund-raiser would bring in at least $40,000.

Reporter Joel Currier
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 314-340-8744