Somerville entrepreneur and owner/operator of the 1369 Coffee House establishments Josh Gerber attended the 15th Annual Prepare for Winter Dinner benefiting On The Rise, Inc., a day program for homeless women located in Cambridge.

A new Board Member of On The Rise, Gerber, brought a host of friends to the Sept. 27th event, which raised close to $200,000 for the non-profit.

On The Rise focuses on building relationships between the women who are seeking assistance and its staff; which includes six community advocates and many volunteers.

The program begins by addressing basic needs: At 341 Broadway, the Victorian home of On The Rise, women find the warmth of a well-stocked kitchen, nutritious meals, a place to sit and relax, pick up mail, find clean clothes and the safety to take a shower. But above all they find friendly faces, a non-judgmental welcome, a fostering of their dignity and self-worth. Once trust has been established, the women can explore the wider issues and challenges, such as substance abuse, mental health issues, joblessness, and trauma that are underlying factors in their homelessness.

“This was our 15th dinner and we had a great turnout,” said On The Rise Executive Director Martha Sandler. “It was wonderful to see our loyal friends and newcomers to the organization.