The tragic events of April 15 affected us all, but Dorchester was especially hard hit. Members of that community are pulling together with Hometown Comfort, an event to support our city and help it heal with the embrace of a hometown.  At the heart of that embrace will be a comfort food, dine around with as many as 25 area chefs preparing and sharing their version of comfort food.

The event is Sunday, May 19 at the IBEW Local 103 Hall, 256 Freeport St., Dorchester.

“Dorchester is a community of action and determination, and despite our grief and shock we are compelled to act – we all want to do whatever we can,” said Mark Juaire, spokesperson for the event. “Hometown Comfort is about helping, and about coming together so we can heal – individually and as a community.”

The comfort food tasting, spearheaded by celebrity chef Chris Douglass of Ashmont Grill and Tavolo, is from 6-9 PM. Tom Ashbrook, host of NPR’s “On Point” from WBUR Boston, will be master of ceremonies for the evening, which will include live entertainment and a live auction. 

During the day, the American Red Cross will conduct a blood drive from noon to 6PM, while in the events tent outside the hall, Hometown Comfort will feature games, food, raffles, and other family activities. All money raised will go directly to The One Fund-Boston to support the victims of the Marathon bombing.

A donation of $25 per family (free to blood donors) is suggested for the daytime event. Tickets for the evening events are $75 per person, $50 for blood donors. Corporate sponsorships for Hometown Comfort are available at several levels from $10,000 to $100,000.