COAL TOWNSHIP - Nos'Trovia will host a "murder mystery dinner" on April 6 to benefit Door of Hope, a children's mission group that tends to the needs of abandoned, abused and orphaned children in South Africa.
Mary Lenig, owner of Nos'Trovia, 1000 W. State St., said proceeds from the purchase of a $25 ticket will benefit the group. Admission to "Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die" includes an Italian dinner buffet with coffee and tea.
According to a website for Door of Hope, www.doorofhope.co.za, their mission is to "provide a temporary Christian home for all our babies and children whilst seeking a forever family" and to provide a "suitable long-term care or other permanent care for each one."
The group's name originates from Berea Baptist Church in Johannesburg, where in 1999 Cheryl Allen, pastor, created a hole in the church wall for mothers to anonymous leave their babies they did not want or could not keep.
Lenig garnered interest after meeting Allen at a speaking event, where she learned that 40 to 50 babies were being dumped every month and left to die in the country.
She made reference to South Africa by saying about the mistreatment of babies, "It is a tragedy that is gruesomely real."
A cast of seven has been hard at work preparing for the show, including Maria "Peach" Krebs, Jamie Golden, Jenna Lenig, Abriel Newton, Jasmine Olvany, Kevon Markowski and Andrew Litchard.
Their goal is to entertain the audience, but most importantly, to share their support and appreciation of Door of Hope's efforts.
"We are hoping to bring an awareness to this cause," Lenig said. "(We are) privileged to being born in the United States. It is hard for the average American to comprehend abandoning a newborn baby to a Dumpster or back alley."
Show tickets are available until April 4 and only 75 will be sold. They can be purchased by calling Nos'Trovia at 648-2905.