Fundraiser to Benefit Couple Displaced in House Explosion

OCEAN CITY - Once again Ocean City is proving that a little generosity and a little bit money received from many people can go a long way. In the resort tradition of banding together and helping community members in need, a fundraiser will be held next week for Richard and Marion Manning.

The 'A Day for Friends' benefit for Ocean City locals Richard and Marion Manning will be from open to close at the original Greene Turtle and BJs on the Water on Wednesday, June 13. The benefit aims to raise money to help the Manning's in their time of need.

On the evening of April 3, 2007, the Manning's house was destroyed in a devastating fire that was the result of a car crashing into their home. Jay Mickell Benedict, 36, of Ocean City, crashed his truck into the Manning's home rupturing a gas line. Benedict fled the scene of the accident in his truck leaving the Manning's home engulfed in flames. Fortunately the Manning's were able to escape unharmed. Their house, vehicles, and belongings, however, were not as lucky. 

Since the accident and fire, the Mannings have been enduring rough times. The loss of their home has placed them with friends until they find another place to live and left them devoid of priceless treasures that were destroyed in the fire.

Marion Manning, an Ocean City native, is a former employee of the Food Lion and the Ocean City public library. Richard Manning, originally from Baltimore, taught school for 32 years and has been an artist for over 50 years. Sadly, half of his oil paintings were destroyed in the fire.

The Mannings had been enduring rough times before the fire, with Marion in and out of hospitals recently for gangrene and Richard battling prostate, colon, and liver cancer for the past 18 months.

The 'A Day for Friends' benefit will last all day Wednesday at The Greene Turtle on 116^th street and BJ's on the Water on 75^th street. Both restaurants have pledged to donate 10-percent of their profits for the entire day.

There will also be a silent auction occurring that day at the Greene Turtle, to which many local restaurants have donated and contributed. Raffle tickets for a Basket of Cheer are also available between now and next Wednesday. Raffle tickets are being sold for $1 or 6 for $5.

More restaurants are encouraged to join in the fundraiser or contribute to the silent auction, and donations are certainly welcome. For further information please contact Anna Eikenberg at 410-524-6332 or 443-880-6529.