Olivia Medovich
Staff writer
The Gentry House, a shelter for some of Murray’s homeless population, hosted Multicultural Festival to Fight Homelessness on Thursday, Oct. 6, in the Quad.
Wendy Lovett, director of the Gentry House, said around they eared $325, going toward helping families in need.
Gentry House personnel set up a tent filled with tables of food and raffle tickets purchased by people through out the day.
A variety of on- and off-campus groups and individuals made donations to the shelter, Lovett said.
“It was really interesting to see all the different organizations come together because it was so diverse,” she said. “Murray State students are our greatest untapped resource.”
Members of the Gentry House appreciate any help they receive from students and the community to commit their time and make donations, Jasmine Crosier, junior from Murray, Ky., said.
“We take every little bit we can get,” Crosier said. “Every little bit helps.”
She said the shelter uses the donations to provide families with a number of things others may take for granted.
“We try to help out families as much as we can with small stuff so they can save their money and be able to move out,” she said.
People who donated money at the fundraiser could enter to win a coupon to the restaurant of their choice in Murray.
Local businesses donated a variety of foods for the shelter to serve at the festival.
Denise Shuttler, secretary treasurer for the Gentry House, said some people might not realize there are homeless in Murray who are in need.
“We don’t have an obvious homelessness in Murray,” Shuttler said. “We help at least 48 to 50 families a year and we have at least 8 people on the waiting list. By the time we go to help them we can’t even find them.”
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