The same workshop is offered twice a month at the Catholic Charities’ offices at 34 Woodlawn Ave., Norwalk, and provides an opportunity for individuals struggling with financial stability to improve household budgeting skills. Participants learn skills in household and utility savings, smart shopping, reducing expenses, paying off debt and saving for the future.

Funding for the workshops is provided by United Fund and Key Bank Foundation.

Upcoming dates include Feb. 2 and Feb. 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. To register for one of the workshops, contact Catholic Charities case manager Marla Sommers at 419-668-3073, ext. 106, or at 1-800-668-3110.

Volunteers and participating agencies are to count the homeless at food pantries, hospitals, social service agencies, churches, emergency shelters, transitional housing and other locations. The count begins at midnight Jan. 23 and continues through midnight Jan. 24. The local count is to include households “doubled up” — which include people living with family or friends.

The event provides a snapshot of one day of homelessness in the county and is part of the Ohio Point-in-Time Count 2012: Everyone Counts, required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for communities receiving Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance grant funding. The data is used to plan future services geared toward ending homelessness, to understand changes in trends in the homeless population and to justify the need for continued resources to assist the homeless.

Previous counts showed 62 homeless people in Huron County in 2010 and 18 in 2011, excluding households living doubled up. The decrease was attributed by the state to the federal Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, says Roxanne Sandles, coordinator of Catholic Charities’ housing program and Huron County Point-In-Time.

The count is being coordinated locally by the Huron County Continuum of Care, a housing task force for which Catholic Charities is the lead agency, and in the state by the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO).

“This annual survey is extremely important to residents of Huron County as it will impact current and future funding of services for our most vulnerable citizens,” Ms. Sandles says. “We are working with county agencies, churches and law enforcement to get as accurate a count as possible.”

The grant is part of an ongoing effort to improve the shelter’s safety and efficiency. The funds will be used to replace sections of the sidewalk and driveway that have buckled and created significant gaps and unevenness in the walkway.

Additional grants to the Miriam House in the past year have allowed staff at the home to improve energy efficiency that resulted in 10 percent savings on gas and electric bills.

A grant from the Ohio Department of Development in March 2011 provided $13,000 for the installation of an energy-efficient water heater, an energy-efficient furnace and an updated security system. Second Harvest awarded the shelter with a $738 grant to purchase a new stove, refrigerator and microwave.

The Miriam House is a ministry of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Toledo and provides shelter for homeless women and their children for up to two years while clients develop the skills to become self-sufficient.

A lunch of chicken noodle soup, chicken or pulled pork sandwiches, sides and dessert is to be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The cost is $7.

A silent auction runs from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by a live auction at 2 p.m. The festival also includes live music from noon-1 p.m., a car and motorcycle show, an Amish quilt raffle, a 50/50 drawing and a bake-off.

Other activities include children’s games, a pedal pull at 11:30 a.m., a cornhole tournament from noon to 2 p.m., a basketball hoop shoot at 11:30 a.m. and a women’s skillet throw at 11 a.m.

All profits support the Bismark Senior/Community Center.

The program, “Ye Olde Yuletide Concert,” includes an appearance by the Ashland University Chamber Singers. The program includes fully-costumed singers and props.

“In the year that St. Mary is celebrating its 150th anniversary, it is appropriate that we celebrate our 45th anniversary in the acoustically perfect nave,” says Rand Laycock, a member of the concert committee.

Doors open at 7 p.m. with music provided by St. Mary organist Greg McDonald. The church’s new outdoor carillons will play traditional carols during the event as well.

Tickets for the concert are $7.50 each.

Prior to the concert is a feast of ‘byrde and boar’ and wassail, served at 6 p.m. in Reynold’s Hall. Reservations for the meal are required before 5 p.m. Dec. 5 and may be made by calling 419-668-1641. The dinner-concert ticket is $20 per person.

The dinner is catered by Victorian Lady Bed and Breakfast in Norwalk, and decorations are being organized by Mr. McDonald.

St. Mary is located at 38 W. League St., Norwalk.