Splurge Bakery will host a fundraiser for St. Stephen’s Church on Friday, November 18 to help the church pay for repairing the $275,000 in damages it sustained during Irene.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, located at Main and Church streets in Millburn, was established in 1851 and groups have been helping the church recover from the storm and flooding it suffered when the Rahway River spilled over its banks and raged down Main Street in August.

“Partnering with St. Stephen’s on this fundraising event is an honor for us,” said Julie Winer, who with her husband Stephen, owns Splurge. “It is very important for us to give back to our community, and what better way to do then with a sweet night bringing people together in order to help rebuild this Millburn landmark.”

The idea for a fundraiser came out shortly after the storm, when the new Rector Rev. Sheelagh A. Clarke, who started two days after Irene, was looking around at the mess and feeling a little “dispirited” so she decided to treat herself to a cupcake at Splurge, which is nearby on Main Street.

“The owner, Julie, and I started commiserating, and I was telling her about the damage here and she wanted to do something,” Clarke said.

They decided that now the time is right for a “decadent dessert” party to lift the spirits and the coffers. “I hope the community will come out and join us,” Clarke said.

Tickets to the event, taking place Nov. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m., will include a dessert buffet and wine and are $30 per person or $50 per couple. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling or stopping by Splurge Bakery.

Splurge Bakery opened its storefront in October of 2010 on Main Street, offering an assortment of cookies, cupcakes, birthday and specialty cakes, brownies, cake pops, scones and coffee, as well as hands-on classes and birthday parties.