The Sunday night event at King’s Rook Club to benefit Independence Hill.

After two business owners in an Erie neighborhood known by its residents as Independence Hill found themselves cleaning up broken glass and determining what had been stolen from them following break-ins earlier this month, thoughts turned to boosting security in the growing Peach Street retail district.

The community is invited to help advance the effort by attending a fund-raiser at the King’s Rook Club, 1921 Peach St., on Sunday night. A $10 donation at the door will get visitors complimentary food, free pool and music provided by two DJs at the 21-and-over event, which runs from 5 to 9 p.m., event organizer Meghann Legler said.

All of the money raised on Sunday night will go toward installing safety features in the neighborhood, which sits just north of West 26th Street, including lighting and alarm systems, Legler said.

She said she thought it was important to help the business owners out and to bring the community together to make the neighborhood more secure for the people who work there, the people who shop there and the people who own businesses there.

Among those planning to attend is Erie Mayor Joe Schember, who announced the fund-raiser at his weekly news conference on Thursday morning and invited others to join him at the party.

“We’re all neighbors in this city,” Schember said. “You can’t change that these businesses were vandalized ... but we can support our small businesses so that this won’t happen again.”

Fat Lenny’s, a sweet shop and toy store at 2408 Peach St., had a window smashed out, $50 taken from the cash register and some candy bars stolen in the Feb. 4 burglary, owner Scottie Freeman said. A window was also broken out at Pointe Foure Vintage Boutique, 2508 Peach St., where owner Emily George’s new cash register and about $175 were taken, she said.

Both burglaries remain under investigation, Erie police reported Thursday.

Schember said his administration is working to build a relationship with the residents and business owners in Independence Hill “so they know they can talk to us, if they need something let us know what it is and we’ll try to help them.”

“I think that is probably the most important thing is starting to build this relationship with that group and helping them grow. They’re local businesses, and that’s my number one priority,” he said.

Tim Hahn can be reached at 870-1731 or by email. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ETNhahn.